The Day of Doom
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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
DAY OF DOOM; OR A DESCRIPTION Of the Great and Last Judgment.
WITH A SHORT DISCOURSE ABOUT ETERNITY
Eccles. 12. 14.
For God shall bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.
LONDON, Printed by I. G. for P. C. 166 •
A 〈◊〉 unto Christ the Judge of the World.
O Dearest dread, most glorious King,
I will of thy justice Judgment sing:
Do thou my head and heart inspire
To doit aright, as I desire.
Thee, thee
alone I will invocate:
For I do much abominate
To call the Muses to mine aid:
Which is the unchristian use, and trade
Of some that Christians would be thought,
And yet they Worship worse than naught
•
Oh, what a deal of Blasphemy,
And Heathenish Impiety,
In Christian Poets may be found,
Where Heathen God's with Praise are cr
•
wn
•
They make JEHOVAH to stand by,
Till
Juno, Venus, Mercury,
With frowning
M
•
rs,
and thund'ring
Jo
•
e
•
Rule Earth below, and Heaven above.
But I have learned to pray to none,
Save unto God in Christ alone.
Nor will I laud, no not in jest,
That which I know God doth detest.
I reckon it a damning evil,
To give God's Praises to the Devil.
Thou, Christ, art he to whom I pray:
Thy glory fain I would display.
Oh, guide me by the sacred Sprite
So to indite, and so to write,
That I thine holy Name may praise,
And teach th
•
sons of men thy ways.
THE DAY OF •• OM.
I.
STill was the night, serene and bright,
when all men sleeping lay;
Calm was the season, & car
••
l reason
thought so 'twould last
•
or ay.
Soul take thine ease, let sorrow cease,
much good thou hast in store;
This was their song their cups among
the evening before.
II.
Wallowing in all kind of sin,
vile wretches lay secure,
The best of men had scarcely then
their Lamps kept in good ure.
Virgins unwise, who through disguise
amongst the best were numbered,
Had closed their eyes; yea, and the Wise
through sloth and frailty slumber'd.
III.
Like as of old, when men grew bold
God's threatenings to contemn,
(Who stopped their ear, and would not hear
when mercy warned them?
But took their course, without remorse,
till God began to pour
Destruction the world upon,
in a tempestuous show
••
IV.
They put away the evil day
and drowned their cares and fears,
Till drowned were they, and swept away
by vengeance unawares:
So at the last, whilst men sleep fast
in their security,
Surpriz'd they are in such a snare
as cometh suddenly.
V.
For at midnight broke forth a light,
which turned the night today:
And speedily an hideous cry
did all the world dismay.
Sinners awake, their hearts do ache,
trembling their loins surpriseth;
Am
•
z'd with fear, by what they hear,
each one of them ariseth.
VI.
They rush from beds with giddy heads,
and to their windows run,
Viewing this Light, which shines more bright
than doth the noon-day Sun.
Straightway appears (they seeit with
•
ears)
the Son of God most dread,
Who with his train comes on amain
to judge both Quick and Dead.
VII.
Before his face the Heavens give place,
and Skies are rent asunder,
With mighty voice and hideous noise,
more terrible then Thunder.
His brightness damps Heavens glorious l
•
mps,
and makes them hide their heads:
As if afraid, and quite dismayed,
they quit their won
•
ed steads.
VIII.
Ye sons of men that durst contemn
the threatenings of God's word,
How cheer you now? your hearts (I trow)
are thrill'd as with a sword.
Now Atheist blind, whose bru
•
ish min
•
a God could never see,
Dost thou perceive, dost now believe
that Christ thy Judge shall be
•
IX.
Stout courages (whose hardiness
could death and hell out-face)
Are you as bold now you behold
your Judge draw near apace?
They cry, No, no: alas and woe
•
our courage all is gone:
Our hardiness, (
•
ool-hardiness)
hath us undone, undone.
X.
No heart so b
•
ld but now grows cold,
and almost dead with fear:
No eye so dry but now can cry,
and pour out many a tear.
Earths Po
•
entates and pow'rful States,
Captains and men of Might
Are qui
•
e abashed, their courage dashed.
At this most dreadful sight.
XI.
Mean men lament, great men do r
•
nt
their robes and tear their hair:
They do not spare their flesh to tear
through horrible despair.
All kindreds wail, their hearts do fail:
horror the world doth fill
Wi
••
weeping eyes, and loud out-cries,
yet knows not how to kill.
XII.
Some hide themselves in Caves and Delves,
and pl
•
ces under ground:
Some rashly leap into the deep,
to, scape by being drowned:
Some to the Rocks, (O senseless blocks)
and woody Mountains run,
T
•
a
•
there they might this fearful
•
ight
and dreaded Presence shun.
XIII.
In v
•
in do they to Mountains say,
Fall on us, and us hide
From Judges i
•
e, more hot then fire,
For who may it abide?
No hiding place can from his face
sinners at all conceal,
Whose flaming eye hid things doth spy,
and darkest things reveal.
XIV.
The Judge draws nigh, exalted high
upon a lofty Throne,
Amids the throng of Angels strong,
LIKE
Israel's
•
oly One.
The excellence of whose Presence,
and awful Majesty,
Am
•
zeth Nature, and every Crea
•
ure
doth more then terrify.
XV.
The Mountains smo
•
k, the Hills are shook,
the Earth is rent and torn,
As if she should be clean dissolved,
or from her Cen
•
re born.
The Sea doth roar, forsakes the sho
•
e,
and shrinks away for fear:
The wild beasts flee into the Sea
so soon as he draws nea
•
.
XVI.
Whose glory bright, whose wond
•
ous might,
whose Power Imperial,
So far surpass what ever was
in Realms Terrestrial;
That tongues of men (nor Angels pen)
cannot the same express:
And the
•
efore I must pass it by,
lest speaking should transgress.
XVII.
Before his throne a Trump is blown,
proclaiming th' day of Doom:
Forthwith he c
•
ies,
Ye dead arise,
and unto Judgment come.
No sooner said, but 'tis obeyed;
Sepulch
•
es opened are;
Dead bodies all
•
ise at his call,
and's mig
••
y power declare.
XVIII.
Both s
•
a and land at his command,
their dead at once surrender:
The fire and air constrained are
also
•
heir de
•
d to
•
ender.
The mighty woe
•
d of
•
his great Lord
links body and soul toge
•
her,
Both of the just and the unjust,
to part no more forever.
X
•
X.
The same translates from mortal states
•
o imm
••
tality,
All that survive, and be alive,
in the' twinkling of an eye.
That so they may abide for ay
to endless weal or woe;
Both the Renate and Reprobate
are made to die no moe.
XX.
His winged Hosts fly through all Coasts,
together gathering
Both good and bad, both quick and dead,
and all to Judgment bring.
Out of their holes these creeping Moles,
that hid themselves for fear,
By force they take, and quickly make
before the Judge appear.
XXI.
Thus everyone before the Throne
of Christ the Judge is brought,
Both righteous and impious,
that good or ill had wrought.
A sepa
•
ation, and diff'ring station
by Christ appointed is
To sinners sad ('
•
wixt good and bad,)
'
•
wixt Heirs of woe, and bliss.
XXII.
At Christ's right hand the sheep do st
•
nd,
his Holy Martyrs who
For his dear Name, suffering shame,
calamity, and woe,
Like Champions stood, and with their blood
their Testimony sealed;
Whose innocence, without off
•
nce
to Christ their Judge appealed.
XXIII.
Next unto whom there find a room,
all Christ's
•
fflicted one
•
,
Who being chastis'd, neither despised,
nor sank amidsts their g
•
oans:
Who by the Rod were turned to God,
and loved him the more,
N
••
murmuring nor quarrelling
•
when they were chaste'ned sore.
XXIV.
Moreover such as loved much,
that had not such a trial,
As might constrain to so great pain,
and such deep sel
•
-denial;
Yet ready were the Cross to bear,
when Christ them called thereto,
And did rejoice to hear his voice,
they are counted Sheep also.
XXV.
Christ's flock of Lambs there also stands,
whose Faith was weak, yet true;
All sound Believers (Gospel-receivers)
whose grace was small, but grew.
And them among an infant throng
of Babes, for whom Christ died;
Whom
•
or his own, by ways unknown.
to men, he sanctified.
XXVI.
All stand before their Savior
in long white Robes
•
clad,
Their countenance
•
ull of pleasance,
appearing wondrous glad.
O glorious sight I behold how bright
dust heaps are made to shine,
Conformed so their Lord unto,
whose glory is divine.
XXVII.
At Christ's left hand the Goats do stand,
all whining Hypocrites,
Who for self-ends did seem Christ's friends,
but fost'red guileful sprites:
Who Sheep resembled, but they dissembled
(their heart was not sincere)
Who once did throng Christ's Lambs among;
but now must not come near.
XXVIII.
Apostate's, and Run-away's,
such as have Christ forsaken,
(Of whom the the Devil, with seven more evil,
hath fresh possession taken:
Sinners in grain, reserved to pain
and torments most severe)
Because 'gainst light they sin'd with spite,
are also placed there.
XXIX.
There also stand a num'rous band,
that no profession made
Of Godliness, nor to redress
their ways at all assay'd:
Who better knew, but (sin
•
ul Crew
•
)
Gospel and Law despised;
Who all Christ's knocks withstood like blocks,
and would not be advised.
XXX.
Moreover there with them appear
a number numberless
Of great and small, vile wretches all,
that did God's Law transgress:
Idolaters, false Worshippers,
Prophaners of God's Name,
Who not at all thereon did call,
or took in vain the same.
XXXI.
Blasphemers lewd, and Swearers shrewd,
Scoffers at Purity,
That hated God, contemned his Rod,
and loved security.
Sabbath-polluters, Saints Persecutors,
Presumptuous men, and Proud,
Who never loved those that reproved;
all stand amongst this crowd.
XXXII.
Adulterers and Whoremongers
were there, with all unchaste.
There Covetou
•
, and Ravenous,
that Riches got too fast:
Who used 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 fl
•
gitious,
And Parents who did them undo
by nature vicious.
False-witness-bearers, and self-forswearers,
Murd'rers and men of blood,
Witches, Enchanters, and Alehouse-haunters,
beyond account there stood.
XXXIV.
Their place there find all Heathen blind,
that Natures light abused,
Although they had no tidings glad
of Gospel-grace re
•
used.
There stand all Nations and Generations
of
Adam
's Progeny,
Whom Christ redeemed not, who Christ esteemed not
throught infidelity.
XXXV.
Who no Peace-maker, no Undertaker
to shroud them from God's ire
Ever obtained; they must be pained
with everlasting fire.
These num'rous bands, wringing their hands,
and weeping, all stand there,
Filled with anguish, whose hearts do languish
through self-tormenting fear.
XXX.
Fast by them stand at Christ's left hand
the Lion fierce and fell,
The Dragon bold, that Serpent old
that hurried Souls to Hell.
There also stand, under command,
Legions of Sprights unclean.
And hellish Fiends that are no friends
to God, nor unto men.
XXXVII.
With dismal chains and strong reins,
like prisoners of Hell,
They'r held in place before Christ's face,
till he their Doom shall tell.
These void of tears, but filled with fears,
and dreadful expectation
Of endless pains, and scalding flames,
stand waiting for Damnation.
XXXVIII.
All silence kept, both Goats and Sheep,
before the Judges Throne:
With mild aspect to his Elect
then spake the Holy One:
My Sheep draw near, your sentence hear,
which is to you no dread,
Who clearly now discern, and know
your sins are pardoned.
XXXIX.
'Twas meet that ye should judged be,
that so the world may 'spy
No cause of grudge, when as I judge
and deal impartially,
Know therefore all both great and small,
the ground and reason why
These men do stand at my right hand,
and look so cheerfully.
XL.
These men be those my Father chose
before the world's foundation,
And to me gave that I should save
from death and condemnation.
For whose dear sake I flesh did take,
was of a woman born,
And did inure myself toendure
unjust reproach and scorn.
XLI.
For them it was that I did pass
through sorrows many a one:
That I drank up that bitter Cup,
which made me sigh and groan.
The Cross his pain I did sustain;
yea more, my Fathers ire
I under-went, my blood I spent
to save them from Hell fire.
XLII.
Thus I esteemed, thus I redeemed
all these from every Nation,
that they might be (as now you see)
a chosen Generation.
What if ere-while they were as vile
and bad as any be,
•
nd yet from all their guilt and thrall
at once I set them free?
XLIII.
My grace to one is wrong to none:
none can Election claim.
Amongst all those their souls that lose,
none can Rejection blame.
He that may choose, or else refuse,
all men to save or spill,
May this man choose, and that refuse,
redeeming whom he will.
XLIV.
But as for those whom I have chose
Salvations heirs to be,
I u
•
derwent their punishment,
and therefore set them free.
I bore their grief, and their relief
by suffering procured,
That they of bliss and happiness
•
ight firmly be assured.
XLV.
And this my g
•
ace they did embrace,
believing on my name;
Which Faith was true, the fruits do show
proceeding from the same.
Their Penitence, their Patience,
their Love, their Self-den
•
all;
In suffering losses and bearing crosses,
when put upon the trial:
XLVI.
Their sin forsaking, their cheerful taking
my yoke; their chari
•
ee
Unto the Saints in all their wants,
and in them unto me.
These things do clear, and make appear
their Faith to be unfeigned:
And that a part in my desert
and purchase they have gained.
XLVII.
Their debts are paid, their peace is made,
their sins remitted are;
Therefore at once I do pronounce
and openly declare,
That Heaven is theirs, that they be Heir
•
of Life and of Salvation;
Nor ever shall they come at all
to death or to damnation.
XLVIII.
Come, blessed ones, and sit on Thrones,
judging the world with me:
Come, and possess your happiness,
and bought
•
elicitee.
Henceforth no fears, no care, no tears,
no sin shall you annoy,
Nor anything that grief doth bring;
eternal rest enjoy.
XLIX.
You bore the Cross, you suffered loss
of all
•
or my Names sake:
Receive the Crown that's now your own;
come, and a kingdom take.
Thus spake the Judge: the wicked grudge,
and grind their teeth in vain;
They see with groans these placed on throne
•
which addeth to their pain:
L.
That those whom they did wrong and slay,
must now their judgment see!
Such whom they slighted and once de
•
spighte
•
must of their Judges be!
Thus 'tis decreed, such is their meed
and guerdon glorious:
With Christ they sit, judging it fit
to plague the impious.
LI.
The wicked are brought to the Bar
like guilty malefactors,
That oftentimes of bloody crimes
and treasons have been actors.
Of wicked men none are so mean
as there to be neglected:
Nor none so high in dignity,
as there to be respected.
LII.
The glorious Judge will privilege
nor Emperor nor King:
But everyone that hath misdone
doth into judgment bring;
And everyone that hath misdone,
the Judge impartially
Condemneth to eternal woe,
and endless misery.
LIII.
Thus one and all, thus great and small,
the rich as well as poor,
And those of place, as the most base,
do stand their Judge before:
They are arraigned, and there detained
before Christ's judgment seat
With trembling fear their Doom to hear,
and feel his angers heat.
LIV.
There Christ demands at all their hands
a strict and straight account
Of all things done under the Sun;
who
•
e numbers far surmount
Man's wit and thought: yet all are brought
unto this solemn trial;
And each offense with evidence,
so that there's no denial.
LV.
There's no excuses for their abuse
••
since their own consciences
More proof give in of each man's sin;
then thousand witnesses.
Though formerly this faculty
had grossly been abused,
(Men could it stifle, or with it trifle,
whenas it them accused.)
LVI.
Now it comes in, and every si
•
unto man's charge doth lay:
It judgeth them, and doth condemn,
though all the world say nay.
It so stingeth and tortureth,
it worketh such di
•
tress,
That each man's self against himself
is forced to confess.
LVII.
It's vain, moreover, for men to cover
the least iniquity;
The Judge hath seen and privy been
to all their villainy.
He unto light and open sight
the works of darkness b
•
ings:
He doth unfold both new and old,
both known and hidden things.
LVIII.
All filthy facts and secret acts,
however closely done
And long concealed, are there revealed.
before the mid-day Sun.
Deeds of the night shunning the light,
which darkest corners sought,
To fearful blame and endless shame,
are there most justly brought.
LIX.
And as all facts and grosser acts,
so every word and thought,
Erroneous notion and lust
•
ul motion,
are into judge
•
meant brought.
No sin so small and trivial,
but hi
•
her it must come:
•
or so long past, but now at last
it must receive a doom.
LX.
•
t this sad season Christ asks a reason
(with just austerity)
Of Grace refused, of Light abused
so oft, so willfully:
O
•
Talents lent, by them-misspent,
and on their lusts bestowed;
Which if improved as it behoov'd,
Heaven might have been their own.
LXI.
Of time neglected, of means rejected,
of God's longsuffering,
And patience, to penitence
that sought hard hearts to bring.
Why cords of love did nothing move
to shame or to remorse?
Why warnings grave, and councils have
naught changed their sinful course?
LXII.
Why chastenings and evil
•
hings,
why judgments so severe
Prevailed not with them a jo
•
,
nor wrought an awful fear?
Why promises of holiness,
and new obedience,
•
hey oft did make, but always break
the
•
ame to God's offense?
LXIII.
Why, still Hell-ward, without regard,
the boldly ventured,
And chose Damnation before Salvation
when it was offered?
Why sinful pleasures and earthly treasures,
like fools they prized more
Then heavenly wealth, eternal health,
and all Christ's Royal store?
LXIV.
Why, when he stood off'ring his Blood
to wash them from their sin,
They would embrace no saving Grace,
but lived and died therein?
Such aggravations, where no evasions
nor false pretences hold,
Exagerate and cumulate
guilt more then can be told:
LXV.
They multiply and magnify
men's gross iniquities;
They draw down wrath (as Scripture saith)
out of God's treasuries
•
Thu
•
all their ways Christ open lays
to Men and Angels view,
And, as they were, makes them appear
in their own proper hue.
LXVI.
Thus he doth find of all ma
•
kind
that stand at his left hand
No mothers son but hath misdone,
and broken God's command.
All have transgressed, even the best,
and merited God's wrath
•
nto their own perdition,
and everlasting scath.
LXVII.
Earth's dwellers all both great and small,
have wrought iniquity,
And suffer must (for it is just)
eternal misery.
Amongst the many there come not any
before the Judge's face,
That able are themselves to clear,
of all this curled race.
LXVIII.
Nevertheless they all express,
Christ granting liberty,
What for their way they have to say,
how they have lived, and why.
They all draw near, and seek to clear
themselves by making plea's.
There hypocrites, false-hearted wights,
do make such pleas as these.
LXIX.
Lord, in thy Name, and by the same
we Devils dispossessed:
We raised the dead, and ministered
succor to the distrest.
Our painful preaching and pow'rful teaching,
by thine own wondrous might,
Did thoroughly win from God to sin
many a wretched wight.
LXX.
All this (quoth he) may granted be
•
and your case little bettered,
Who still remain under a chain,
and many irons fettered.
You that the dead have quickened,
and rescu'd from the grave,
Your selves were dead, yet never ned
a Christ your Souls to save.
LXXI.
You that could preach, and others teach
wh
•
t way to life doth lead;
Why were you slack to find that track,
and in that way to tread?
How could you bear to see or hear
of others freed at last
From Satan's Paws, whilst in his jaws
yourselves were held more fa
•
t?
LXXII.
Who though you kne
•
Repentance true
and faith in my great Name,
The only mean to quit you clean
from punishment and blame,
Yet took no pain true faith to gain,
(such as might not deceive)
Nor would repent wi
•
h true intent
•
our evil deeds to leave.
LXXIII.
•
is Masters will how to fulfil
•
he servant that well knew,
•
et left undone his duty known,
more plagues to him are due.
•
ou against Light perverted Right;
•
herefore it shall be now
•
or
Sidon
and for
Sodom
's Land
•
ore easy then for you.
LXXIV.
•
ut we have in thy presence been,
say some, and eaten there.
•
id we not eat thy flesh for meat,
and feed on heavenly cheer?
Whereon who feed shall never need,
as thou thyself dost say,
•
or shall they die eternally,
but live with thee for ay.
LXXV.
We may allege, thou gavest a pledge
of thy dea
•
love to us
〈◊〉
Wine and B
•
e
•
d,
•
hich figured
•
hy grace bestowed thus.
Of streng
•
hning seals, of s
•
eetest meals
have we so oft partaken?
•
nd shall we be cast off by thee,
and utterly forsaken?
LXXVI.
〈◊〉
whom the Lord thu
•
in a word
•
eturns a short reply:
I never k
•
ew any of you
that wrought iniquity.
You say y' have been, my Presence in;
bu
•
, f
•
iends, how came you there
Wi
•
h Raiment vile, that did defile
and quite disgrace my cheer?
LXXVII.
Durst you draw near without due fear
unto my holy Table?
Du
•
st you profane and render vain
so far as you were able,
Those Mysteries? which whoso prize
and carefully improve,
Shall saved be undoubtedly,
and nothing shall them move.
LXXVIII.
How du
•
st you venture, bold guests, to enter
in such a
•
ordid hi
•
e,
Amongst my guests, unto those feasts
that were not made for you?
How durst you eat for spir'tual meat
your bane, and drink damnation,
Whilst by your guile you rendered vile
so rare and great salvation?
LXXIX.
Your fancies fed on heavenly bread;
your hearts fed on some lust:
You loved the Creature more then th'Creator
your souls clave to the dust.
And think you by hypocrisy
and cloaked wickedness,
To enter in, laden with sin,
to lasting happiness.
LXXX.
This your excuse shows your abuse
of things ordained for good;
And do declare you guilty are
of my dear Flesh and Blood.
Wherefore those Seals and precious Meals
you put so much upon
As things divine, they seal and sign
you to perdition.
LXXXI.
Then forth issue another Crew,
(those being silenced)
Who drawing nigh to the most High
adventure thus to plead:
We sinners were, say they, 'tis clear,
deserving Condemnation:
But did not we rely on thee,
O Christ, for whole Salvation?
LXXXII.
We did believe, and of receive
thy gracious Promises:
We took great care to get a share
in endless happiness:
We prayed and wept, we Fast-days kept,
lewd ways we did eschew:
We joyful were thy Word to h
•
ar,
we fo
•
m'd our lives anew.
LXXXIII.
We thought our sin had pardoned bi
•
,
that our estate was good,
Our debts all paid,
•
ur peace well made,
our Souls wash
•
wi
•
h
•
hy B
•
oud.
Lord, why dost thou rej
•
ct us now,
who have not thee rejected,
Nor utterly true sanctity
and holy li
•
e neglected?
LXXXIV.
The Judge ince
•
sed at their pretenced
self-vaunting piety,
With such a look as trembling struck
into them, made reply;
O impudent, impeni
•
ent,
and guile
•
ul generation!
Think you that I cannot descry
your hearts abomination?
LXXXV.
You not received, nor yet believe
•
d
my promises of grace;
Nor were you wise enough to prize
my reconciled face:
But did presume, that to assume
which was not yours to take,
And challenged the children's bread,
yet would not sin forsake.
LXXXVI.
B
•
ing too bold you laid fast hold
where int'
•
est you had none,
Your selves deceiving by your believing;
all which you might have known.
You
•
an away (but ran astray)
with Gospel promises,
And perished, being still dead
in sins and trespass
•
.
LXXXVII.
How oft did I hypocrisy
and hearts deceits unmask
Before your sight, giving you ligh
•
to know a Christians task?
But you held fast unto the last
your own conceits so vain:
No warning could prevail, you would
your own deceits re
•
ain.
LXXXVIII.
As for your care to get a share
in bliss, the fear of Hell,
And of a part in endless smart,
did thereunto compel.
Your holiness and ways redress,
such as it was, did spring
From no true love to things above,
but from some other thing.
LXXXIX.
You prayed and wept, you Fast-days kept,
but did you this to me?
No, but for
••
n you sought to win
the greater liberty
•
.
For all your vaunts, you had vile haunt's;
for which your consciences
Did you alarm, whose voice to charm
you used these practices.
XC.
Your penitence, your diligence
to read, to pray, to hear,
Were but to drown the clam'rous sound
of conscience in your ea
••
If light you loved, vain-glory moved
yourselves therewith to store,
Th
•
t seeming wise, men might you prize,
and honor you the more.
XCI.
Thus from yourselves unto yourselves
your duties all do tend:
And as self-love the wheels do move,
so in self-love they end.
Thus Ch
•
ist detects their vain projects,
and close impiety,
And plainly shows that all their shows
were but hypocrisy.
XCII.
Then were brought nigh a company
of
•
ivil honest men,
That loved true dealing, and hated stealing,
•
e wronged their brethren:
Who pleaded thus, Thou knowest us
that we were blamele
•
s livers;
No whore-mongers, no murderers,
no quarrellers nor strivers.
XCIII.
Idolaters, Adulterers,
Church-robbers we were none;
Nor false dealers, nor couzeners,
but paid each man his own.
Our way was fair, our dealing square,
we were no wastful spenders,
No lewd toss-pots, no drunken sots,
no scandalous offenders.
XCIV.
We hated vice, and set great price
by virtuous conversation:
And by the same we got a name,
and no small commendation.
God's Laws express that righteousness
is that which he doth prize;
And to obey, as he doth say,
is more then sacrifice.
XCV.
Thus to obey, hath been our way;
let our good deeds, we pray,
Find some regard, and good rewa
•
d
with thee, O Lord, this day.
And whereas we transgressors be;
of
Adam's
Race were n
•
ne,
(No not the best) but have confess
•••
themselves to h
•
ve mis
•
one.
XCVI.
Then answered, un
•
o their dread,
the Judge, True piety
God doth desire, and eke requi
•
e
no less then honesty.
Justice demands at all your hands
perfect Obedience:
If but in part you have come sh
•••
,
that is a just offense.
XCVII.
On earth below where men did owe
a thousand pounds and more,
Could twenty pence it recompense?
could that have cleared the score?
Think you to buy felicity
with part of what's due debt?
O
•
for desert of one small part
the whole should off be set?
XCVIII.
And yet that part (whose great desert
you think to reach so far
For your excuse) doth you accuse,
and will your boasting mar.
However fair, however square
your way, and work h
•
th been
Before men's eyes, yet God espies
iniquity therein.
XCIX.
God looks upon th'
•
ff
•
ction
and temper of the heart;
Not only on the action,
and the external part.
Whatever end vain men pretend,
God knows the v
•
ri
•
y
•
And by the end which they intend
their words and deeds doth try.
C.
Without true faith, the Scripture saith,
God cannot take delight
In any deed, that doth proceed
from any si
•
full wight.
And withou
•
love all actions prove
but barren empty things:
Dead works they be, and vanity,
the which vexation brings.
CI.
Nor from true faith, which quencheth wrath
hath your obedience flown:
Nor from true love, which wont to move
believers, hath it grown.
Your argument shows your intent
in all that you have done:
You thought to
•
call heavens lofty wall,
by ladders o
•
your own.
CII.
Your blinded spirit, hoping to merit
by your own righteousness,
Needed no Savior, but your b
•
haviour
and blameless ca
•
riages
•
You trusted to what you could do,
and in no need you stood:
Your haughty pride laid me aside,
and trampled on my Blood.
CIII.
All men have gone astray, and done
that which God's Law
•
condemn:
But my Purchase and offered Grace
all men did not contemn.
The Ninevites and Sodomites
had no such sin as this:
Yet as if all your sins were small,
you say, All did amiss.
CIV.
Again, you thought, and mainly sought
a name with men t' acquire:
Pride bare the B
•
ll that made you swell,
and your own selves admire.
M
•
an frui
•
it is, and vile, I wis,
that sp
•
ings from such a root:
Virtue divine and genuine
wants not from pride to shoor.
CV.
Such deeds as you are worse then poo
•
,
they are but sins guilt over
With silver dross, whose glistering gloss
•
an them no longer cover.
The best of them would you condemn,
and
•
uine you alone,
Al
•
hough you were from faults so clear,
that other you had none.
CVI.
Your gold is dross, you
•
silver brass,
your righteousness is sin:
And think you by such honesty
Eternal life to win?
You much mistake, if for it's sake
you dream of acceptation;
Whereas the same deserveth shame,
and meriteth damnation.
CVII.
A wondrous Crowd then 'gan aloud
thus for themselves to say;
We did intend, Lord to mend,
and to reform our way:
Ou
•
true intent was to repent,
and make our peace with thee;
But sudden death stopping our breath,
left us no libertee.
CVIII.
Short was our time; for in his prime
our youthful flow'r was cropped:
We died in youth, before full growth;
so was our purpose stopped.
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.
To whom the Judge; Where you allege
the shortness of the space
That from your bi
•
th you lived on earth,
to compass S
•
ving Grace:
It was free grace, that any space
wa
•
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,
A favor was that far did pass
the best of your deserts.
You had a season; what was your Reason
such preciou
•
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?
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,
what if you were surprised?
You put away the evil day,
and of long life devised.
You oft were told, and might behold,
that Death no age would spare.
Why then did you your time foreslow,
and slight your Souls welfare?
CXIII.
H
•
d your intent been to Repent,
and had you it desired,
There would have been endeavors seen
before your time expired.
God makes no
•
reasure nor hath he pleasure
in idle purpo
•
es:
Such fair pretences are foul offenses,
and cloaks for wickedness.
CXIV.
Then were brought in and charged with sin
another Compa
•
y,
Who by Petition obtained permission
to make apology:
They argued; We were misled,
as is well known to thee,
By their Example, that had more ample
abilities than we.
CXV.
Such as professed we did detest
and hate each wicked way:
Whose seeming grace whilst we did trace,
our Souls were led astray.
When men of Parts, Learning and Arts,
professing Piety,
Did thus and thus, it seemed to us
we might take liberty.
CXVI.
The Judge Replies; I gave you eyes,
a
•
d light to see your way:
Which had you loved and well improved
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 know, that God is true,
and that most men are liars,
In word professing holiness,
in deed thereof deniers
•
O simple
•
ools! that having Rules
your lives to Regulate,
Would them refuse, and rather choose
vile men to imitate.
CXVIII.
But Lord, say they, we we
••
astray,
and did more wickedly,
By means of those whom thou hast chose
Salvations 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 ba
•
e.
CXIX.
You understood that what was good
was to be
•
ollowed,
And that you ought that which was naught
to have relinquished.
Contrariwise, it was your guise,
only to imitate
Good men's defects, and their neglects
that were Regenerate.
CXX.
But to express their holiness,
or imitate their Grace,
Yet little ca
•
'd, not once prepared
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.
We had thy Word, (said some) O Lord,
but wiser men then 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.
Was all my Word obscure and hard?
the Judge then answered:
It did contain much Truth so plain,
you might have run and read.
But what was hard you never cared
to know, nor studied:
And things that were most plain and clear,
you never practiced.
CXXIII.
The Mystery of Pie
•
y
God unto Babes reveals;
When to the wise he it denies,
and from the world co
•
ceals.
If
•
o fulfill God's holy will
had seemed good to you,
You would have sought light as you ought,
and done the good y
•
u knew.
CXX
•
V.
Then came in view ano
•
her Crew,
and 'gan to make their plea's;
Amongst the rest, some of the best
had such poor
•
hifts as these:
Thou knowest right well, who all canst tell,
we lived amongst thy foes,
Who the Renate did sorely hate,
and goodness much oppose.
CXXV.
We Holiness durst not profess,
fearing to be forlorn
Of all our friends, and for amends
to be the wicked's scorn.
We knew thei
•
anger would much endanger
our lives and our estates:
Therefore for fear we durst appear
no better than our mates.
CXXVI.
To whom the Lord returns this word;
O wonderful deceits!
To cast off awe of God's strict Law,
and fear men's wrath and th
•
eats!
To fear Hell-fire and God's fierce ire
less then the rage of men!
As if God's wrath could do less scath
than wrath of brethren!
CXXVII.
To use such strife to temp'ral life
to rescue and secure!
And be so b
•
ind as not to mind
that life that will endure!
This was you
•
case, who carnal peace
more then
••
ue joys did savor:
Who fed on dus
•
, clave to your lust,
and spurned at my
•
avour.
CXXVIII.
To please your kin, men's loves to win,
to flow in woe
•
ldly wealth,
To save your skin, these things have been
more than Eternal health.
You had your choice, wherein rejoice,
it was your portion,
For which you chose your Souls t' expose
unto Perdition.
CXXIX.
Who did not hate friends, life, and state,
with all things else for me,
And all forsake, and's Cross up take,
shall never happy be.
Well worthy they do die for ay,
who death then life had rather:
Death is their due that so value
the friendship of my Father.
CXXX.
Others argue, and not a few,
is not God gracious?
His Equity and Clemency
are they not marvelous?
Thus we believed; are we deceived?
cannot his Mercy great,
(As hath been told to us of old)
asswage his anger's heat?
CXXXI.
How can it be that God should see
his Creatures endless pain?
O
•
hear their groans or ruefull moans,
and still his wrath retain?
Can it agree with equitee?
can Mercy have the heart,
To Recompence few years offense
with Everlasting smart?
CXXXII.
Can God delight in such a sight
as sinners Misery?
Or what great good can this our blood
bring unto the most High?
Oh 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 it not raise thine endless praise,
more than our suffering?
With that they cease, holding their peace,
but cease not still to weep;
Griefe ministers a flood to tears,
in which their words do steep:
CXXXIV.
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.
As may appear by those that here
are placed at my right hand;
Whose stripes I bore and cleared the score
that they might quitted stand.
For surely none but God alone,
whose Grace transcends man's thought,
For such as those that were his foes
like wonders would have wrought.
CXXXVI.
And none but he such lenitee
and patience would have shown
To you so long, who did him wrong,
and pulled his judgments down.
How long a space (O stiff-neckit Race!)
did patience you afford?
How oft did love you gently move
to turn unto the Lord?
CXXXVII.
With cords of Love God often strove
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 Mercies room,
yet grudge you no
•
therefore.
CXXXVIII.
If into wrath God tu
••
ed hath
his Long-long
•
uffe
•
ing,
And now for Love you Vengeance prove,
it is an equal thing.
Your waxing worse, hath stopped the course
of wonted Clemency:
Mercy refused, and Grace misus'd,
call for severity.
CXXX
•
X.
It's now high time that every Crime
be brought to punishment:
Wrath long contained, and oft refrain'd,
at last must have a vent.
Justice
•
evere cannot fo
•
bear
to plague sin any longer;
But must inflict with hand mo
•
t strict
mischief upon the wronger.
CXL.
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 men whose ear refused to hear
the voice of Wisdom's cry,
Earn'd this reward, that none regard
him in his misery.
CXLI.
It doth agree with Equitee,
and with God's holy Law,
That those should dy eternally,
that death upon them draw.
The Soul that sin's damnation win's;
for so the Law ordains:
Which Law is just
•
and therefore must
such suffer endless pains.
CXLII.
Etern
•
l smart is the desert
even of the least offense;
Then wonder not if I allot
to you this Recompence:
But wonder more that, since so sore
and lasting plagues are due
To every sin, you lived therein,
who well the danger knew.
CXLIII.
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 thoroughly hate all sin,
By plaguing it, as is most fit,
this shall him glory win.
CXLIV.
Then at the Bar arraigned are
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 signed to be destroyed?
CXLV.
Whom God ordains to endless pains
by Laws unalterable,
Repentance true, Obedience new,
to save such are unable:
Sorrow for sin no good can win
to such as are rejected;
Ne can they give, not yet believe
that never were elected.
CXLVI.
Of man's fallen Race who can true Grace
or Holiness obtain?
Who can convert or change his heart,
if God with-hold 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.
Christ readily makes this reply;
I damn you not because
You are rejected, or not elected;
but you have broke my Laws.
It is but vain your wits to strain
the E
•
d and Me
•
ns to sever:
Men fondly seek to dart or break
what God hath linked together.
CXLVIII.
Whom God will save, such he will have
the means of life to use:
Whom he will pass by, shall choose to di
•
,
and ways of life refuse.
He that fore-sees and fore-decrees,
in wisdom ordered has,
That man's free-will electing ill
shall bring his Will to pass.
CXLIX.
High God's Decree, as it is free,
so doth it none compel
Against their will to good or ill;
i
•
forceth none to Hell.
They have their wish whose Souls perish
with torments in Hell-fire:
Who rather chose their souls to lose,
then leave a loose desire.
CL.
God did ordain sinners to pain;
and I to hell send none,
But such as swe
•
v'd, and have deserved
destruction as their own.
His pleasure is, that none fr
〈…〉
ss
and endless happiness
Be bar'd, but such as wrong
〈◊〉
much
by willful wickedness.
CLI.
You (sinful crew!) no other knew
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 knockit, yet say God lockit
against you heavens door.
CLII.
'Twas no vain task to knock, to ask,
whilst life continued.
Who ever sought Heaven as he ought,
and seeking perished?
The lowly-meek who truly seek
for Christ and for salvation,
There's no Decree whereby such be
ordained to condemnation.
CLIII.
You argue then; But abject men,
whom God resolves to spill,
Cannot repent, nor their hearts rent;
ne can they change their will.
Not for his
Can
is any man
adjudged unto hell:
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 spilled.
But you, vile race, rejected Grace
when Grace was freely proffered:
No changed heart, no heavenly part
would you, when it was offered.
CLV.
Who willfully the remedy
of Grace and Life contemned,
Cause have the same themselves to blame,
if now they be co
•
demned.
You have yourselves, you and none else,
yourselves have done to die:
You chose the way to your decay,
and perished willfully.
CLVI.
These words apale and daunt them all;
dismai'd, and all amort,
Like stocks they 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 b
•
utish men,
that did God's Law transgress.
CLVII.
Whose wicked ways, Christ open lays,
and makes their sins appear,
They making plea's the case to ease,
if not themselves to clear.
Thy written word (say they) good Lord
we never did enjoy:
We not refused nor it abused,
Oh do not us destroy.
CLVIII.
You never abused nor yet refused
my written Word, you plead;
That's t
•
ue, (quoth he) therefore shall ye
the less be punished.
You shall not smart for any part
of other men's offense,
But for your own transgression
receive due recompense.
CLIX.
But we were blind, say
•
hey, in mind;
too dim was natures light,
Our only guide (as hath been try
•
d)
to bring us to the sight
Of our estate degenerate,
and cu
•
st by
Adam
's fall;
How we were born and lay forlorn
in bondage and in th
•
all.
CLX.
We did not know a Christ till now,
nor bow fall
•
man he saved:
Else should we not, right well we woe
•
,
have so ourselves behaved.
We should have mourned, we should have turned
from sin at thy reproof,
And been more wise through thine advice
for our own Souls behoof.
CLXI.
But natures light shined not so bright
to teach us the right way:
We might have loved it, & well improved it,
and yet have gone astray.
The Judge most high makes this reply;
you ignorance pretend,
Dimness of sight, and want of light
your course Heaven-ward to bend:
CLXII.
How came your mind to be so blind?
I once you knowledge gave,
Clearness of sight, and judgment right;
who did the same deprave?
If to your cost you have it lost,
and quite defaced the same;
Your own desert hath caused your smart,
you ought not me to blame.
CLXIII.
Your selves into a pit of woe
your own transgressions led:
If I to none my grace had shown,
who had been injured?
If to a few, and not to you,
I showed a way of life,
My Grace so free, you clearly see,
gives you no ground of strife.
CLXIV.
'It is
•
ain to tell, you wot full well,
if you in time had known
Your Misery and Remedy,
your actions had it shown.
You, sinful crew, have not been true
unto the light of Nature;
No
•
done the good you understood,
nor owned your Creator.
CLXV.
He that the Light, because 'tis Light,
hath used to despize,
Would not the Light, shining more bright,
be likely for to prize.
If you had loved and well improved
your knowledge and dim sight,
Herein your pain had not been vain,
your plagues had been more light.
CLXVI.
Then to the Bar all they drew near
who died in infancy,
And never had or good or bad
effected pers'nally;
But from the womb unto the tomb
were straightway carried,
(Or at the least, ere they transgressed)
who thus began to plead.
CLXVII.
If for our own transgression,
or disobedience,
We here did stand at thy left hand,
j
•
st were the recompense:
But
Adam
's guilt our souls hath spilled,
his fault is charged upon us;
And that alone hath overthrown,
and utterly undone us.
CLXVIII.
Not we, but he, a
•
e of the Tree,
whose fruit was interdicted:
Yet on us all of his sad fall
the punishment's inflicted.
How could we sin who had not been?
or how is his sin our
Without consent, which to prevent
we never had a power?
CLXIX.
O great Creator, why was our nature
depraved and forlorn?
Why so defiled, and made so vild
Whilst we were yet unborn?
If it be just, and needs we must
transgressors reckoned be,
Thy mercy, Lord, to us afford,
which sinners hath set free.
CLXX.
Behold, we see
Adam
•
et free,
and saved from his tree
•
pass,
Whose sinful fall hath split us all,
and brought us to this pass.
Canst thou deny us once to try,
or grace to us to tender,
When he finds grace before thy face,
that was the chief offender?
CLXXI.
Then answered the Judge most dread;
God doth such doom forbid,
T
•
at men should die eternally
for what they never did.
But what you call old
Adam
's Fall,
and only his Trespass,
You call amiss to call it his:
both his and yours it was.
CLXXII.
He was designed of all mankind
to be a public Head,
A common Root whence all should shoot,
and stood in all their stead:
He stood and fell, did ill or well,
not for himself alone,
But for you all, who now his Fall
and trespass would disown.
CLXXIII.
If he had stood, then all his brood
had been established
In God's true love, never to move,
nor once awry to tread:
Then all his Race my Fathers Grace
should have enjoyed forever,
And wicked Sprights by subtle sleights
could them have harmed never.
CLXXIV.
Would you have grieved to have received
through
Adam
so much good,
As had been your for evermore,
if he at first had stood?
Would you have said, We never obeyed
nor did thy Laws regard;
It ill befits with benefits
us, Lord, so to reward?
CLXXV.
Since then to share in his welfare
you could have been content,
You may with reason share in his treason,
and in the punishment.
Hence you were born in state forlorn,
with natures so dep
•
aved:
Death was your due, because that you
had thus yourselves behaved.
CLXXVI.
You think if we had been as he,
whom God did so betrust,
We to our cost would never have lost
all for a paltry lust.
Had you been made in
Adam
's stead,
you would like things have wrought;
And so into the self-same woe
yourselves and yours have brought.
CLXXVII.
I may deny you once to try,
or Grace to you to tender,
Though he finds grace be
•
ore my face
who was the chief offender:
Else should my Grace cease to be Grace,
for it should not be free,
If to release whom I shall please
I have not libertee.
CLXXVIII.
I
•
upon one what's due to none
I frankly shall bestow,
And on the rest shall not think best
compassions skirt to throw,
Whom injure I? will you envy,
and grudge at others weal?
Or me accuse, who do refuse
yourselves to help and heal?
CLXXIX.
Am I alone of what's my own
no Master or
•
o Lord?
Or if I am, how can you claim
w
•
at I to some afford?
Will you demand G
•
ace at my hand,
and challenge what is mine?
Will you teach me whom to set free,
and thus my Grace confine?
CLXXX.
You sinners are, and such a share
as sinners may expect,
Such you shall have, for I do save
none but mine own Elect.
Yet to compare your sin with their
who lived a longer time,
I do confess yours is much less,
though every sin's a crime:
CLXXXI.
A crime it is: therefore in bliss
you may not hope to dwell:
But unto you I shall allow
the easiest room in hell.
The glorious King thus answering,
they cease and plead no longer:
Their consciences must needs confess
his Reasons are the stronger.
CLXXXII.
Thus all men's plea's the Judge with ease
doth answer and confute,
Until that all both great and small,
are silenced and mute.
Vain hopes are cropped, all mouths are stopped,
sinners have naught to say,
But that 'tis just, and equal most
they should be damned for ay.
CLXXXIII.
Now what remains, but that to pains
and everlasting smart
Christ should condemn the sons of men,
which is their just desert?
Oh ru
•
ul plights of sinful wights!
Oh wretches all forlorn!
That happy been they never had seen
the Sun, or not been born.
CLXXXIV.
Yea, now it would be good they could
•
themselves annihilate,
And cease to be, themselves to free
from such a fearful state.
Oh happy Dogs, and Swine, and Frogs!
yea, Serpents generation!
Who do not fear this doom to hear,
and sentence of D
•
mnation!
CLXXXV.
This is their state so de
•
perate:
their sins are fully known;
Their vani
•
ies and villainies
Before the world are shown.
As they are gross and impious,
so are their numbers more
Then motes i' th' air, or then their hair,
or sands upon the shore.
CLXXXVI.
Divine Justice offended is,
a
•
d Satisfaction claim
•
h:
God's wrathful ire kindled like fire
against them fiercely flameth.
Their Judge severe doth quite cashire
and all their Pleas off take,
That never a man, or dare, or can
a further Answer make.
CLXXXVII.
Their mouths are shut, each man i
•
put
to silence and to shame:
Nor have they ought within their thought
Christ's Justice for to blame;
The Judge is just, and plague them must,
nor will he mercy show
(For Mercy's day is past away)
to any of this Crew.
CLXXXVIII.
The Judge is strong; doers of wrong
cannot his Power withstand:
None can by flight run out of sight,
nor scape out of his hand.
Sad is their sta
•
e; for Advocate
to plead their Cause there's none:
None to prevent their punishment,
or misery to bemo
•
e.
CLXXXIX.
O dismal day! whither shall they
for help or succor flee?
To God above, with hopes to move
their greatest Enemee?
His wrath is g
•
eat, whose burning heat
to flood of Tears can
•
lake:
His word stands fast, that they be cast
into the burning Lake.
CXC.
To Chr
•
st their Judge? he doth adjudge
them to the Pit of Sorrow:
Nor will he hear or cry, or tear,
nor respite them on morrow.
To Heaven? Alas they cannot pass,
it is against them shut:
To enter there (O heavy cheer!)
they out of hopes are put.
CXCI.
U
•
to their Treasures, or to their Pleasures?
all these have been forsaken:
Had they full Coffers to make large offers,
their Gold would not be taken.
Unto the place where whilome was
their birth and education?
Lo! Christ begins for their great sins
to fire the Earths foundation:
CXCII.
And by and by the flaming Sky
shall drop like moulten Lead
About their ears, t' increase their fears
and aggravate their dread.
To Angels good that ever stood
in their integrity,
Should they betake themselves, and make
their suit incessantly?
CXCIII.
They neither skill, nor do they will
to work them any ease:
They will not mourn to see them burn,
nor beg for their release.
To wicked men, their brethren
in sin and wickedness,
Should they make mone? their case is one;
they are in the same distress.
CXCIV.
Ah, cold comfort, and mean support
from such like Comforters!
Ah, little joy of Company,
and fellow-sufferers!
Such shall increase their hearts disease,
and add unto their woe,
Because that they brought to decay
themselves and many moe.
CXCV.
Unto the Saints with sad complaints.
should they themselves apply?
They're not dejected nor ought affected
with all their misery.
Friends stand aloof, and make no proof
what Prayers or Tears can do:
Your godly friends are now more friends
to Christ then unto you.
CXCVI.
Where tender love men's hearts did move
unto a sympathy,
And bearing part of others smart
in their anxiety;
Now such compassion is out of fashion,
and wholly laid aside:
No friend so near, but Saints to hear
their judgment can abide.
CXCVII.
One natural Brother beholds another
in this astonied fit,
Yet sorrows not thereat a jot,
nor pities him a whit.
The godly wife conceives no grief,
nor can she shed a tear
For the sad state of her dear Mate,
when she his doom doth hear.
CXCVIII.
He that was erst a Husband piercit
with sense of Wives distress,
Whose tender heart did bear a part
of all her grievances,
Shall mourn no more as heretofore
because of her ill plight;
Although he see her now to be
a damned forsaken wight.
CXCIX.
The tender Mother will own no other
of all her numerous brood,
But such as stand at Christ's right hand
acquitted through his Blood.
The pious Father had now much rather
his graceless Son should lie
In Hell with Devils, for all his evils
burning eternally:
CC.
Then God most High should injury
by sparing him sustain;
And doth rejoice to hear Christ's voice
adjudging him to pain.
Who having all (both great and small)
convinced and silenced,
Did then proceed their Doom to read,
and thus it uttered;
CCI.
Ye
•
inful wights, and cursed sprights,
that work Iniquity,
Depart together from me forever
to endless Misery.
Your portion take in that sad Lake
where Fire and Brimstone flameth:
Suffer the smart, which your desert
as its du
•
wages claimeth.
CCII.
Oh pierceing words more sharp then Swords!
what, to depart from
Thee,
Whose face before for evermore
the best of Pleasures be!
What! to depart (unto our smart)
from thee
Eternally!
To be for ay banishit away
with
Devils
company!
CCIII.
What! to be sent to
Punishment,
and flames of
Burning Fire!
To be surrounded, and eke confounded
with God's
Revengeful Ire!
What! to abide, not for a tide,
these Torments, but for
Ever!
To be released, or to be eased,
not after years, but
Never
!
CCIV.
Oh,
fearful Doom
! now there's no room
for hope, or help at all:
Sentence is past which ay shall last,
Christ will not it recall.
There might you hear them rent and tear
the Air with their out-c
•
ies:
The hideous noise of their sad voice
ascendeth to the skies.
CCV.
They wring their hands, their caitiff-hands,
and gnash their teeth for terror:
They cry, they roar for anguish sore,
and gnaw their tongues for horror.
But get away without delay;
Christ pities not your cry:
Depart to Hell
•
there may you yell
and roar Eternally.
CCVI.
That word
Depart,
maugre their heart;
drives every wicked one,
With mighty power, the self-same hour
far from the Judges throne.
Away they are cast by the strong blast
of his Death-threatening mouth:
They
•
lee full fast, as if in hast;
although they be full loath.
CCVII.
As chaff that's dry, and dust doth fly
before the Northern wind:
Right so are they chased away,
and can no Refuge find.
They hasten to the Pit of woe,
guarded by Angels stout:
Who to fulfil Christ's holy will
attend this wicked Rout.
CCVIII.
Whom having brought, as they are taught
unto the brink of Hell
(That dismal place far from Christ's face,
where Death and Darkness dwell:
Where God's fierce ire kindleth the fire,
and Vengeance feeds the flame
With piles of wood, and brimstone flood,
that none can quench the same.)
CCIX.
With Iron bands they bind their hands
and cursed feet together,
And cast them all, both great and small,
into that Lake forever.
Where day and night, without respite,
they wail, and cry, and howl
For tor'
•
ring pain, which they sustain
in Body and in Soul.
CCX.
For day and night, in their despite,
their torments smoke ascendeth:
Their pain and grief have no relief,
their anguish never endeth.
There must they lie, and never die;
though dying every day:
There must they dying ever lie;
and not consume away.
CCXI.
Dye fain they would, if die they cou
•
but death will not be had
•
God's dire
•
ul wrath their bodies hath
for ev'r Immortal made.
They live to lie in misery.
and bear eternal woe:
And live they must whilst God is just,
that he may plague them so.
CCXII.
But who can tell the plagues of Hell,
and torments exquisite?
Who can relate their dismal state,
and terrors infinite?
Who fare the best, and feel the least,
yet feel that Punishment
Whereby to naught they should be brought,
if God did not prevent.
CCXIII.
The least degree of misery
there felt's incomparable,
The lightest pain they there sustain
more then intolerable.
But God's great power from hour to hour
upholds them in the fire,
That they shall not consume a jot,
nor by its force expire.
CCXIV.
But ah, the woe they u
•
dergo
(they more then all beside)
Who had the light, and knew the right,
yet would not it abide!
The sev'
•
-fold smart, which to their part
and portion doth fall,
Who Christ his Grace would not embrace,
nor hearken to his call!
CCXV.
The
Amorites
and
Sodomites,
although their plagues be sore,
Yet find some ease, compared to these,
who feel a great deal more.
Almighty God, whose Iron Rod
to smite them never
•
ins,
Doth most declare his Justice rare
in plaguing these men's
•
ins.
CCXVI.
The pain of loss their souls doth toss
•
nd wond'rously distress,
To think what they have cast away
by willful wickedness.
We might have been redeemed from si
•
,
think they, and lived above,
Being possessed of heavenly rest,
and joying in God's love.
CCXVII.
But woe, woe, woe our souls unto!
we would not happy be;
And therefore bear God's vengeance here
to all Eternitee.
Experience and woeful sense
must be our painful teachers,
Who
•
' old believe, nor credit give
unto our faithful Preachers.
CCXVIII.
Thus shall they lie, and wail, and cry,
tormented, and tormenting
Their galled hearts with poison'd darts;
but now too late repenting.
There let them dwell i' th' flames of hell,
there leave we them to burn,
And back agen unto the men
whom Christ acquits return.
CCXIX.
The Saints behold with courage bold,
and tha
•
kful wonderment,
To see all those that were their foes
thus sent to punishment:
Then do they sing unto their King
a song of endless praise
•
They praise his Name, and do proclaim,
that just are all his ways.
CCXX.
Thus with great joy and melody
to Heaven they all ascend,
Him there to praise with sweetest lays,
And Hymns that never end.
Where with long Rest they shall be blest,
and naught shall them annoy:
Where they shall see as seen they be,
and whom they love, enjoy.
CCXXI.
O glorious Place! where face to face
Jehovah may be seen,
By such as were sinners whilere,
and no dark veil between.
Where the Sun-shine, and Light divine,
of God's bright Countenance
Doth rest upon them everyone
with sweetest influence.
CCXXII.
O blessed state of the Renate!
O Wond'rous Happiness
To which they are brought, beyond what thought
can reach, or words express!
Grief's water-course, and Sorrow's source
are turned to joyful streams.
Their old distress and heaviness
a
•
e vanished like dreams.
CCXXIII.
For God above in arms of love
doth dearly them embrace,
And fills their sprights with such delights
and pleasures in his grace;
As shall not fail, nor yet grow stale
through frequency of use:
Nor do they fear God's Favor there
to forfeit by abuse.
CCXXIV.
For there the Saints are perfect Saints,
and holy ones indeed,
From
•
ll the sin, that dwelt within
their mortal bodies, freed:
Made Kings and Priests to God, through Christ's
dear loves transcendency,
There to remain, and there to reign
with him
Eternally.
FINIS.
I Walk'd and did a little
Mole-hill
view,
Full peopled with a most industrious crew
Of busy
Ants,
where each one labor'd more,
Then if he were to bring home
Indian
Ore;
Here wrought the
Pioneers,
there marched the
Bands,
Here
Colonies
went forth to plant new
Lands
•
These hasted
out,
and those supplies brought in,
As if they had some sudden
Siege
foreseen:
Until there came an
angry Spade,
and cast
Country
and
People
to a
Pit
at last.
Again, I viewed a
Kingdom
in a
Hive,
Where everyone did
woe
•
k,
and so all
thrive
;
Some go, some come, some war, some watch & ward,
Some
make
the works, & some the works do
guard
•
These frame their curious
Waxen-cells,
and those
Do into them their
Nectar drops
dispose:
Until the greedy
Gardner
brought his smoke,
And, for the
work,
did all the
workmen
choke.
Lo here, frail Mortals may
•
it
Emblems
see
Of their great
toil,
and greater
vanity.
They weary out their
b
•
ain,
their
strength,
their
time,
While some to
Arts,
and some to
Honors
climb:
They s
•
arch
Earth
's bowels, cross the roaring
Seas,
Mortgage their
Souls,
and forf
•
it all their
Ease,
Grudge Night her sleep, and lengthen out the day,
To
far
these
B
•
gs,
&
cram
those
Chests
with
clay.
They rack and charm each Creature to explore
Some latent
Quin
•
essence,
not known before:
Torture and squeez out all its juice and blood,
To try if they can now find out that
GOOD
Which
Solomon
despair'd of, but at last
On the same shore of
V
•
nity
are cast;
The
Spade
stops their career of
Pride
and
Lust,
And calls them from their
Clay
unto their
Dust
•
Leave off your Circles,
Archimede,
away,
The
King
of
Terror
calls, and will not stay:
Miser,
kiss all your
Bags,
and then lie down;
Scholar,
your
Books; Monarch,
yield up your
Crown
;
Give way
Wealth, Honor, Arts, Thrones
•
bac
•
make room
•
That these
pale Souls
may come unto their
doom
•
Nor show
vain men
the fruit of all that pain,
Which i
•
the
•
nd nothing but
Loss
did
gain
:
Compute your
Lives,
and all your
Hours
up cast
•
Lo here's the
total sum
of All at last.
I rose up early, sat up late, to
know
As much as
Men,
as
Tongues,
as
Books
could show
•
I toil'd to
search
all
Science
and all
Art,
But died
ignor
•
nt
of mine own
Heart.
I got great
Honor,
and my
Fame
did stream
As far as doth the Mornings shining Beam;
My
Name
into a page of
Ti
•
les
swelled,
My
head
a
Crown,
my
•
and
a
Scepter
held:
Ado
•
'd without, but shameful
lusts
within;
Adorn'd with
Titles,
but defiled with
sin
•
With anxious thoughts, with saddest cares a
••
〈◊〉
I gained these
Lordships
and this
Soul
I l
•
st:
My greedy Heir now hovers o'r my pelf,
I purchased
Land
•
or him,
Hell
for myself.
Go on you
nobler B
•
ains,
and fill your sight
As full of
Learning
as the Sun's of light;
Expand your Souls to
Truth
as wide as Day,
Kuow all that
Men,
know all that
Angels
say:
Write shops of
Volumes,
and let every
Book
Be filled with luster as was
Moses
look,
Yet know, all this is but a better kind
Of
sublime vanity,
and more refined
•
Except a saving knowledge crown the rest,
Devils know more, and yet shall
•
ere be blest.
Go on,
ambitious Woe
••
s,
yet, yet aspire,
Lay a sure Scene how you may yet rise higher:
March forward,
Macedonian Horn,
add on
Gaza
to
Tyre, Indies
to
Babylon
;
Make
stirrups
of the people's
backs
and
bones,
Climb up by them to
Diadems
and
Thrones
:
Thy
Crowns
are all but
Grass; thine
was the
toil,
Thy
Captains
come and they divide the
spoil.
Except one heavenly Crown crown all the rest,
Devils are Potentates, and yet not blest.
Go on, base
dunghill-souls,
heap gold as mi
••
,
Sweep silver as the dust, emulate
Tyre,
Fill every Ware-house, purchase every Field,
Add house to house,
Pelion
on
Ossa
build;
••
t
Mida's
vote to transubstantiate
•
hate'r you pl
•
ase all into golden plate;
•
uild wider Barns, sing
requiem
to your heart,
•
eel your wealths pleasures only, not their
smart
:
Except his Riches who for us was poor,
Do sweeten those which Mortals so adore;
Except sublimer wealth crown all the rest,
Devils have nobler Treasures, yet not blest.
Cease then from
vain delights,
& set your min
•
T
•
at solid and enduring
GOOD
to fi
•
d,
Which sweetens life and death, which will increase
O
•
an immortal Soul immor
•
all peace;
Which will replenish and advance you higher
Then ere your own Ambition could aspire.
Fear your great Maker with a childlike awe,
Believe his Grace, love and obey his Law.
This is
the total work of man,
and this
Will crown you here with
Peace,
and there wi
••
Blis
•
Be kind unto yourselves, believe and try:
If not, go on, fill up your lusts and die.
Sing peace unto yourselves; 'twill once be kno
•
Whose word shall stand,
your Judge
's, or
your ow
•
Crown thee with Rose-buds, satiate thine eyes,
Glut every sense with her own
vanities
:
Melt into pleasures, until that which Lust
D
•
d not before consume, rot into dust:
The
Thrones
are set, the
Books
will strait be rea
•
Hell will her
Souls,
& graves give up their
dea
•
Then there will be (and the time is not far)
Fi
•
e
on the
Bench,
and
Stubble
at the
Bar.
O sinners ruminate these thoughts agen,
You have been
Beast
enough, at last be
Men.
Chris
•
•
et intreats, but if you will not turn,
Whe
•
e
G
••
ce
will not convert, there
Fire
will b
•••
A SHORT DISCOURSE ABOUT ETERNITY.
I.
WHat mortal man can wi
•
h h
•
s span
mete out Eternity?
Or fathom it by depth of wit,
or strength of memory?
The lofty sky is not so high,
hell's depth to this is small:
The world so wide is but a stride,
comp
•
red herewithal.
II.
It is a main great Ocean,
withouten Bank or Bound:
A deep Abyss, wherein there is
no bottom to be found.
This world hath stood now since the Flood
for thousand years well near,
And had before endured more
then sixteen hundred year:
III.
But what's the time from the worlds prime
unto this present day,
If we thereby Eternity
to measure should assay?
The whole duration since the Creation,
though long, yet is more little,
If placed by Eternity,
then is the smallest tittle.
IV.
Tell every Star both near and far
in Heavens bright Canopee,
That doth appear throughout the year,
of high or low degree:
Tell every Tree that thou canst see
in this vast Wilderness,
Up in the Woods, down by the Flouds,
in thousand miles progress:
V.
The sum is vast, yet not so vast
but that thou mayst go on
To multiply the Leaves thereby,
that hang those trees upon:
Add thereunto the drops, that thou
imaginest to be
In
April
shower's, that bring forth Flowr's
and Blossoms plenteously:
VI.
Number the Fowls and living Souls
that through the air do fly,
The winged Hosts in all the Coasts
beneath the starry Sky:
Count all the grass as thou dost pass
through many a pasture land,
And dewy drops that on the tops
of Herbs and Plants do stand:
VII.
Number the Sand upon the Strand,
And Atom
•
s of the air;
And do thy best on Man and Beast
to reckon every Hair:
Take all the Dust, if so thou lust,
and add to thine account:
Yet shall the years of sinners tears
the number far su
•
mount.
VIII.
Nought join'd to Nought can
•
e'
•
make ought
nor Cyphers make a Sum:
Nor things Finite to Infinite
by multiplying come:
A Cockle-shell may serve as well
to lave the Ocean dry,
As finite things and Reckonings
to bound Eternity.
IX.
O happy they that live for ay
with Christ in Heaven above!
Who know withal that nothing shall
deprive them of his love.
Eternity! Eternity!
Oh, were it not for thee,
The Saints in Bliss and Happiness
could never happy be.
X.
For if they were in any fear
that this their joy might cease,
It would annoy (if not destroy)
and interrupt their peace:
But being sure it shall endure
so long as God shall live;
The thoughts of this unto their bliss
do full perfection give.
XI.
Cheer up, you Saints, amidst your wants
and sorrows many a one:
Lift up the head, shake off all dread,
and moderate your mone.
Your sufferings and evil things
will suddenly be past:
Your sweet Fruitions, and blessed Visions
for evermore shall last.
XII.
Lament and mourn you that must burn
amidst those flaming Seas:
If once you come to such a doom,
forever farewell ease.
O sad estate and desperate,
that never can be mended,
Until God's will shall change, or
•
ill
Eternity
•
e ended!
XIII.
If any one this Question
shall unto me propound;
What, have the years of sinners tears
no limits or no bound?
It kills our heart to think of smart,
and pains that last forever;
And hear of fire that shall expire,
or be extinguished, never.
XIV.
I will answer make, (and let them take
my words as I intend them;
For this is all the Cordial
that here I have to lend them)
When Heaven shall cease to flow with peace,
and all felicity:
Then Hell may cease to be the place
of woe and misery.
XV.
When Heaven is Hell, when Ill is Well,
when Virtue turns to Vice,
When Wrong is Right, when D
•
rk is Light,
when Nought is of great price:
Then may the years of sinners tears
and sufferings expire,
And all the hosts of damned ghosts
escape out of hell-fire.
XVI.
When Christ above shall cea
•
e to love;
when God shall cease to reign,
And be no more, as heretofore,
the woe
•
lds great Sovereign,
Or not be just, or favor lust,
o
•
in men's
•
i
•
s delight:
Then wicked men (and not till then)
to Heaven may take their flight.
XVII.
When God's great Power shall be brought lower
by foreign Puissance;
Or be decayed, and weaker made
through Times, continuance:
When drowsiness shall him oppress,
and lay him fast asleep:
Then sinful men may break their Pen,
and out of Prison creep.
XVIII.
When those in Glory shall be right sorry
they may not change their place,
And wish to dwell with them in Hell,
never to see Christ's face:
Then those in pain may freedom gain,
and be with glory dight:
Then hellish Fiends may be Ch
•
ists F
•
iends
and Heirs of Heaven hight.
XIX.
Then! Ah poor men! what! not till then
n
•
, not an hour before:
For God is just, and therefore must
to
•
meant them evermore.
Eternity! Eternity!
thou makest hard hearts to bleed:
The thoughts of thee in miseree
do make men wail indeed.
XX.
When they remind what's still behind,
and ponder this word,
NEVER,
That they must here be made to bear
God's Vengeance for
EVER
:
The thought of this more bitter is
then all they feel beside:
Yet what they feel, nor heart of steel,
ro
•
flesh of brass can 'bide.
XXI.
To lie in woe, and undergo
the direful pains of Hell,
And know withal, that there they shall
for ay, and ever dwell;
And that they are from rest as far,
when fifty thousand year,
Twice told, are spent in punishment,
as when they first came there.
XXII.
This, Oh! this makes Hell's fiery flakes
much more intolerable;
This makes frail wights and damned sprigh
•
to bear their Plagues unable.
This makes men bite, for
•
ell despite,
their very tongues in twain:
This makes them roar for great hor
•
or,
and trebleth all their pain.
A POSTSCRIPT UNTO THE READER.
ANd now, good Reader, I return again
To talk with thee, who hast been at the pain
To read throughout, and heed what went before;
And unto thee I will speak a little more.
Give ear, I pray thee, unto what I say,
That God may hear thy voice another day.
Thou hast a Soul, my friend, and so have I,
To save or lose a soul that cannot die:
A Soul of greater price than Gold or Gems,
A Soul more worth than Crowns and Diadems:
A Soul at first created like its Maker,
And of G
•
ds Image made to be partaker:
Upon the wings of noblest Faculties
Taught for to soar above the starry skies,
And no
•
to rest, until it understood
It self possessed o
•
the chiefest Good
•
And since the Fa
•
l, thy
•
oul retaineth still
The Faculties of Reason and of Will;
But Oh! how much depraved and out of
•
rame,
As if they were some others, not the same,
Thine Understanding dismally benighted,
And Reasons eye in spir'tual things dim
•
sighted
•
Or else stark blind: thy Will inclined to evil,
And nothing else, a slave unto the Devil
•
That loves to live, and liveth to transgress,
But shuns th
•
ways of God and holiness,
All thine affections are disordered:
And thou by headstrong passions art misled.
What need I tell thee of thy crooked way,
And many wicked wanderings, every day?
Or that thy own transgressions are more
In number, then the sands upon the shore?
Thou art a lump of wickedness become,
And mayst with horror think upon thy doom:
Until thy soul be washed in the flood
Of Christ's most dear, soul-cleansing precious blood;
That, that alone can do away thy sin
Which thou wert born and hast long lived in.
That, only that, can pacify God's wrath,
If apprehended by a lively faith,
Now whilst the day and means of grace doth last,
Before the opportunity be past
•
But if, O man, thou liv'st a Christless creature,
And death surprise thee in a state of nature,
(As who can tell but that may be thy
•
ase)
How wilt thou stand before thy Judges face?
When he shall be revealed in flaming fire
•
And come to pay ungodly men their hire:
To execute due vengeance upon those
That know him not, or that have been his foes:
What wilt thou answer unto his demands,
When he requires a reason at thine hands
Of all the things that thou hast said, or done,
Or left undone, or set thine heart upon?
When he shall thus wi
•
h thee expostulate;
What cause hadst thou thy Maker for to hate,
To take up arms against thy Sovereign,
And enmity against him to maintain?
What injury hath God Almighty done thee?
What good hath he withheld that might have woe
•
thee?
What evil or injustice hast thou found
In him, that might unto thy hurt redound?
If neither felt nor
•
eared injury
Hath moved thee to such hostility:
What made thee then the Fountain to forsake,
And unto broken Pits thyself betake?
What reason hadst thou to dishonor God,
Who the
•
with Mercies never ceased to load?
Because the Lord was good, hast thou been evil,
And taken part against him with the Devil?
For all his cost to pay him with despite!
And all his love with hatred to requite!
Is this the fruit o
•
God's great pa
•
ience,
To wax more bold in disobedience?
To kick against the bowels of his love!
Is this aright his bounty to improve?
Stand still, ye Heavens, and be astonished,
That God by man should thus be injured.
Give ear, O Earth, and tremble at the sin
Of those that thine Inhabitants have been.
But thou, vile wretch, hast added unto all
Thine other faults, and facts so criminal,
The damning sin of willful Unbelief.
Of all Transgressors hadst thou been the chief;
Yet when time was, thou mightest have been set free
From sin, and wrath, and punishment by me.
But thou wouldst not accept of Gospel grace,
Nor on my terms eternal life embrace.
As if all thy breaches of God's Law
Were not enough upon thy head to draw
Ete
•
nal wrath, thou hast despised a Savior,
Rejected me, and trampled on my favor.
How o
•
t have I s
•
ood knocking a
•
thy door,
And been denied entrance evermore?
How often hath my Spirit been withstood,
Whenas I sent him to have done thee good?
Thou hast no need of any one to plead
Thy cause, or for thy Soul to intercede:
Plead for thyself, if thou hast ought to say,
And pay thy forfeitures without delay.
Behold, thou dost ten thousand Talents owe:
Or pay thy debt, or else to prison go.
Think, think, O man, when Christ shall thus unfold
Thy secret guilt, and make thee to behold
The ugly face of all thy sinful errors,
And fill thy face with his amazing terrors,
And let thee see the flaming pit of hell,
(Where all that have no part in him shall dwell)
When he shall thus expo
••
ulate the case?
How cans
•
thou bear to look him in the face?
What wilt thou do without an Advocate,
Or plead, when as thy state is desperate?
Dost think to put him off with fair pretences?
Or wilt thou hide and cover thine offenses?
Can anything from him concealed be,
Who doth the hidden things of darkness see?
Art thou of force his power to withstand?
Canst thou by might escape out of his hand;
Dost thou intend to run out of his sight,
And save thyself from punishment by flight?
Or wilt thou be eternally accurst,
And 'bide his vengeance, let him do his worst?
Oh, who can bear his indignations heat?
Or 'bide their pains o
•
hell which are so great?
I
•
then thou neither cans
•
his wrath endure,
Nor any ransom after death procure:
If neither Cries nor Tears can move his heart
To pardon thee, or mitigate thy smart
•
But unto Hell thou must perforce be sent
With dismal horror and astonishment:
Consider, O my Friends, what cause thou hast
With fear and trembling, while as yet thou mayst,
To lay to heart thy sin and misery,
And to make out after the Remedy.
Consider well the greatness of thy danger,
O child of wrath, and object of God's anger.
Thou hangest over the infernal pit
By one small thread, and car's
•
thou not a whit?
There's but a s
•
ep between thy soul and death:
Nothing remains but stopping of thy breath,
(Which may be done tomorrow, or before)
And then thou art undone for evermore:
Let this awaken thy security,
And make thee look about thee speedily.
How canst thou rest an hour,
•
r sleep a night,
Or in thy creature comforts take delight?
Or with vain toys thyself forgetful make
How near thou art unto the burning Lake?
How canst thou live without tormenting fears?
How canst thou hold from weeping floods of tears,
Yea, tears of blood, I might almost have said,
If such like tears could from thine eyes be shed?
To gain the world what will it profit thee,
And lose thy soul and self eternally?
Eternity on one small point dependeth:
The man is lost that this short life mis spendeth.
For as the Tree doth fall, right so it lies:
And man continues in what s
•
ate he dies.
Who happy die; shall happy rise again:
Who cursed di
•
shall cursed still remain.
If under sin and wrath death leaves thee bound,
At Judgment under wrath thou shalt be found:
And then woe, woe that ever thou wert born
O wretched man, of heaven and earth forlorn!
Consider this, all ye that God forget,
Who all his threatenings at naught do set,
Le
••
into pieces he begin to tear
Your souls, and there be no deliver
•
r.
O you that now sing care and fear away,
Think o
•
ten of that
•
ormidable day,
Wherein the Heavens with a mighty noise,
And with an hideous heart-confounding voice,
Shall pass away together being rolled.
As men are wont their garments up to fold:
When th' Elements with
•
ervent heat shall melt,
And living creatures in the same shall swelt,
And all together in those flames expire,
Which set the earth's foundations on fire.
Oh, what amazement will your hearts be in,
And how will you to curse yourselves begin,
For all your damned sloth, and negligence,
And unbelief, and gross impenitence,
When you shall hear that dreadful Sentence pas
•
,
That all the wicked into hell be cast?
What horror will your consciences
•
u
•
prize,
When you shall hear the fruitless-doleful cries
Of such as are compelled to depart
Unto the place of everlasting smart?
What, when you see the sparks fly out of hell,
And view the Dungeon where you are to dwell,
Wherein you must eternally remain
In anguish and intolerable pain?
What, when your hands and feet are bound togethe
•
,
And you are cast into that Lake forever?
Then shall you feel the truth of what you hear,
That hellish pains are more then you can bear;
And that those torments are an hundred fold
More terrible then ever you were told.
Nor speak I this, good Reader, to torment thee
Before the time, but rather to prevent thee
From running headlong to thine own decay
In such a perilous and deadly way.
We who have known and felt Jehovah's terrors,
Perswade men to repent them of their errors.
And turn to God in time, ere his Decree
Bring forth, and then there be no remedee.
If in the night, when thou art fast asleep,
Some friend of thine, that better watch doth keep,
Should see thy house all on a burning flame,
And thee almost enclosed with the same:
If such a friend should break thy door & wake thee,
Or else by force out of the peril take thee:
What wouldst thou take his kindne
•
s in ill part?
Or frown upon him for his good desert?
Such, O my friend, such is thy present state,
And danger, being unregenerate.
Awake, awake, and then thou shalt perceive
Thy peril greater then thou wilt believe.
Lift up thine eyes and
•
ee God's wrathful ire
Preparing unextinguishable fire
For all that live and die impenitent.
Awake, awake, O sinner, and repent.
And quarrel not, because I thus alarm
Thy Soul to save it from eternal harm.
Perhaps thou harbourest such thoughts as these,
I hope I may enjoy my carnal ease
A little longer, and myself refresh
With those delights that gratify the flesh:
And yet repent before it be too late,
And get into a comfortable state.
I hope I have yet m
•
ny years to spend,
And time enough those matters to attend.
Presumptuous heart! is God engaged to give
A longer time to such as love to live
Like Rebels still, who think to stain his Glory
By wickedness, and after to be sorry?
Unto thy lust shall he be made a drudge,
Who thee, and all ungodly men shall judge?
Canst thou account sin sweet, and yet confess
That, first or last, it ends in bitterness?
Is sin a thing that must procure thee sorrow,
And wouldst thou dally withit another morrow?
O foolish man, who lovest to enjoy
That which will thee distress or else destroy!
What gained
Samson
by his
Delilah
?
What gained
David
by his
B
•
thsheba
?
The one became a slave, lost both his eyes.
And made them sport that were his enemies:
The other penneth, as a certain token
Of God's displeasure, that his bones were broken.
Read, whoso list, and ponder what he reads,
And he shall find small joy in evil deeds.
Moreover this consider, that the longer
Thou liv'st in sin, thy sin will grow the stronger:
And then it will an harder matter prove,
To leave those wicked haunts that thou dost love.
The Blackmore may as ease'lie change his skin,
As old tran
•
gressours leave their wonted sin.
And who can tell what may become of thee,
Or where thy Soul in one days time may be?
We see that Death nor old nor young men spares,
Bur one and other takes at unawares.
For in a moment, whilst men Peace do cry,
Destruction seizeth on them suddenly.
Thou who this morning art a living wight,
Mayst be a Corps and damned Ghost ere night.
Oh dream not then, that it will serve the turn
Upon thy death-bed
•
or thy sins to mourn.
But think how many have been snatched away,
And had no time for Mercy once to pray.
It's just with God Repentance to deny
To such, as put it off until they dy
•
And late Repentance seldom proveth true:
Which if it fail, thou knowest what must ensue.
For after this short life is at an end,
What is amiss thou never canst amend.
Believe, O man, that to procrastinate,
And to put off until it be too late,
As 'tis thy sin, so is it Satan's wile,
Whereby he doth great multitudes beguile
•
How many thousands hath this strong delusion
Already brought to ruin and con
•
usion,
Whose souls are now reserved in Iron Chains
Under thick darkness to eternal pains?
They thought of many years, as thou dost now:
But were deceived quite, and so mayst thou.
Oh then, my friend, while not away thy time,
Nor by Rebellion aggravate thy Crime.
Oh put not off Repentance till tomorrow.
Adventure not without God's leave to borrow
Another day to spend upon thy lust:
Lest God (that is most holy, wise, and just)
Denounce in wrath, and to thy terror say,
This night shall Devils
•
etch thy Soul away.
Now seek the face of God with all thy heart,
Acknowledge unto him how vile thou art;
•
ell him thy sins deserve eternal wrath,
And that it is a wonder that he hath
Permitted thee so long to draw thy breath,
Who might have cut thee off by sudden death,
And sent thy Soul unto the lowest Pit,
From whence no price should ever ransom it,
And that he may most justly do it still
(Because thou hast deserved it) if he will.
Yet also tell him that, if he shall please,
He can forgive thy sins, and thee release:
And that in Christ his Son he may be just,
And justify all those that on him trust;
That though thy sins are of a Crimson die,
Yet Christ his blood can cleanse thee thoroughly.
Tell him, that he may make his glorious Name
More wonderful by covering thy
•
hame.
That Mercy may be greatly magnify'd,
And Justice also fully satisfied,
If he shall please to own thee in his Son,
Who hath paid dear for Mans Redemption.
Tell him thou hast an unbelieving heart,
Which hindereth thee
•
rom coming for a part
In Christ: and that, although his terrors awe thee.
Thou canst not come, til he be pleased to draw thee.
Tell him, thou knowest thy heart to be so bad,
And thy condition so exceeding sad,
That though Salvation may be had for naught,
Thou canst not come and take, till thou be brought,
Oh beg of him to bow thy stubborn will
To come to Christ, that he thy lusts may kill.
Look up to Christ for his attractive power.
Which he exerteth in a needful hour;
Who saith, When as I lifted up shall be,
Then will I draw all sorts of men to me,
Oh, wait upon him with due diligence,
And trembling fear in every Ordinance,
Unto his Call earnest attention give,
Whose voice makes deaf men hear, & dead men live
•
Thus weep, and mourn, thus hearken, pray, & wait:
Till he behold, and pity thine estate,
Who is more ready to bestow his Grace,
Then thou the same art ready to embrace.
Yea, he hath might enough to bring thee home,
Though thou hast neither strength nor will to come.
If he delay to answer thy Request:
Know that oft times he doth it for the best;
Not with intent to drive us from his door,
But
•
or to make us importune him more;
Or else to bring us duly to con
•
ess,
And be convinced of our unworthiness.
Oh be not weary then, but persevere
To beg his Grace, till he thy suit shall hear;
And leave him not, nor
•
rom his footstool go
•
Till over thee Compassion's skirt he throw.
Eternal life will recompense thy pains,
If
•
ound at last, with Everlasting gains.
For if the Lord be pleased to hear thy cries,
And to forgive thy great iniquities,
Thou wilt have cause forever to admire
And laud his Grace, that granted thy desire.
Theu shalt thou find thy labor is not lost:
But that the good obtained surmounts the cost.
Nor shalt thou grieve for loss of sin
•
ul pleasures,
Exchang'd sor heavenly joys & lasting treasures
The yoke of Christ, which once thou didst esteem
A
tedious yoke, shall then most easy
•
eem.
For why? The love o
•
Christ shall thee constrain
To take delight in that which was thy pain.
The ways of Wisdom shall be pleasant ways,
And thou shalt choose therein to spend thy days
•
If once thy Soul be brought to such a pass:
O bless the Lord, and magnify his Grace.
Thou, that of late had
•
t reason to be sad,
May'st now rejoice, and be exceeding glad;
For thy condition is as happy now,
As erst it was disconsolate and low.
Thou art become as rich, as whilome poor;
As blessed now, as cursed heretofore.
For being cleansed with Christ's precious blood,
Thou hast an intr'est in the Chiefest Good:
God's anger is towards thy soul appeased:
And in his Christ he is with thee well-pleased.
Yea, he doth look upon thee with a mild
And gracious aspect as upon his child.
He is become thy Father and thy Friend,
And will defend thee from the cursed Fiend.
Thou needest not fear the roaring Lions rage,
Since God Almighty doth himself engage
To bear thy Soul in Everlasting Arms,
Above the reach of all destructive harms.
Whats'ever here thy sufferings may be,
Yet
•
rom them all the Lord shall rescue thee:
He will preserve thee by his wondrous might
Unto that rich Inheritance in light.
Oh sing for joy, all ye Regenerate,
Whom Christ hath brought into this blessed state,
O love the Lord, all ye his Saints, who hath
Redeemed you from everlasting wrath:
Who hath by dying made your Souls to live,
And what he dearly bought doth freely give.
Give up yourselves to walk in all his ways,
And study how to live unto his praise.
The time is
•
hort you have to
•
erve him here:
The day of your deliverance draweth near.
Lift up your heads, ye upright ones in heart,
Who in Christ's Purchase have obtained a part
•
Behold! he rides upon a shining Cloud,
With Angels voice, and Trumpet sounding loud.
He comes to save his folk from all their foes,
And plague the men that Holiness oppose.
So come,
Lord Jesus,
quickly come we pray,
Yea come and hasten our Redemption day.
A SONG of EMPTINESS, to fill up the Empty Pages following. VANITY OF VANITIES.
VAin, frail, shore-lived and miserable man,
Learn what thou art when thine estate is best;
A restless Wave o'th' troubled Ocean,
A Dream, a lifeless Picture finely dressed:
A Wind, a Flower, a Vapour, and a Bubble,
A Wheel that stands not still, and a trembling Reed,
A rolling Stone, dry dust, light Chaff, and Stubble,
A Shadow of something, but naught indeed.
Learn what d
•
ceitful Toys, and empty things,
This World and all its best Enjoyments be:
Out of the Earth no true Contentment springs;
But all things here are vexing Vanitee.
For what is
Beauty,
but a fading Flower?
O
•
what is
Pleasure,
but the Devils bait,
Whereby he catch
•
th whom he would devour,
And multitudes of Souls doth ruinate?
And what are
Friends,
but mortal men, as we?
Whom Death from us may quickl
•
separate?
Or else their hearts may quite estranged be,
And all their love be turned into hate.
And what a
•
e
Riches
to be doted on?
Vncertain, fickle, and ensnaring things!
They draw men's Souls into Perdition,
And when most needed, take th
•
m to their wings.
Ah foolish man, that sets his heart upon
Such empty shadows, such wild fowl as these,
That being gotten will be quickly gone,
And whilst they stay increase but his disease!
As in a Dropsy, drinking drought beg
•
ts:
The more he drinks, the more he still requires?
So on this World whose
•
affection sets,
His Wealth's increase increaseth his desires.
O happy man, whose Portion is above,
Where Floods
•
where Flames, where Foes cannot bereave him.
Most wretched man, that fixed hath his love
Upon this World, that surely will deceive him!
For what is
Honor
? what is
Sov'raignty,
Whereto men's hearts so restlessly aspire?
Whom have they Crowned with Felicity
When did they ever sati
•
fie desire?
The Ear of man with hearing is not filled:
To see new sights
•
till coveteth the Eye:
The croaking Stomack though it may be stilled,
Yet crokes again without a new supply.
All earthly things man's cravings answer not,
Whose little Heart would all the world contain,
(If all the world should fall to one man's Lot)
And notwithstanding empty still remain.
The Eastern
Conqueror
was said to weep,
When he the
Indian
Ocean did view,
To see his conquests bounded by the Deep,
And no more woe
•
lds remaining to be subdue.
Who would that man in his Enjoyments bless,
Or envy him, or covet his estate,
Whose gettings do augment his greediness,
And make his Wishes more intemperate?
Such is the wonted and the common guise
Of those on Earth that bear the greatest sway:
If with a few the case be otherwise,
T
•
ey seek a Kingdom that abides for ay.
Moreover they of all the Sons of men
That Rule, and are in highest Places set,
Are most inclined to scorn their Brethren,
And God himself (without great Grace) forget.
For as the Sun doth blind the gazers eyes
That for a time they naught discern aright:
So Honor doth befool and blind the Wise,
And their own Luster 'reaves them of their sight.
Great are their Dangers, manifold their Cares:
Through which, whilst others sleep, they scarcely nap
And yet are oft surprised unawares,
And fall unweeting into Envies Trap.
The mean Mechanic finds his kindly rest:
All void of fear sleep
•
h the Country Clown:
When greatest
Princes
often are distrest,
And cannot sleep upon their Beds of Down.
Could
Strength
or
Valour
men Immortalize,
Could
Wealth
or
Honor
keep them from decay,
There were some cause the same to Idolize,
And give the lie to that which I do say:
But neither can such things themselves endure
Without the hazard of a Change one hour,
Nor such as trust in them can they secure
From dismal days, or Deaths prevailing power.
If
Beauty
could the beautiful defend
From Deaths dominion, then fair
Absalome
Had not been brought to such a shameful end:
But fair and foul unto the Grave must come.
If
Wealth
or
Scepters
could Immortal make,
Then, wealthy
Croesus,
wherefore art thou dead?
If
Warlike Force,
which makes the World to quake,
Then why is
Julius Caesar
perished?
Where are the
Scipio'
•
, Thunderbolts
of War?
Victorious
Pompey, Caesars
Enemee?
Stout
Hannibal, Rome's
Terror, known so far?
Great
Alexander,
what's become of thee?
If
Gifts
and
Bribes
Deaths favor might but win,
If
Power
it force, or
Threatenings
might it fray;
All these and more, had still surviving been:
But all are gone, for Death will take no Nay.
Such is this World with all her Pomp and Glory;
Such are the men whom worldly eyes admire:
Cut down by Time, and now become a Story,
That we might after better things aspire.
Go boa
•
t thyself of what thine heart enjoys,
Vain man! triumph in all thy worldly Bliss:
Thy best Enjoyments are but trash and toys;
Delight thyself in that which worthless i
•
.
Omnia praetereunt praeter Amare Deum.
FINIS.