such a root Vertue divine and genuine wants not from pride to shoor CV Such deeds as you are worse then pooâ— they are but sins guilt over With silver dross whose glistering gloss â—an them no longer cover The best of them would you condemn and â—uine you alone Alâ—hough you were from faults so clear that other you had none CVI. Your gold is dross youâ— silver brass your righteousness is sin And think you by such honesty Eternall 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 wond'rous Crowd then 'gan aloud thus for themselves to say We did intend Lord to mend and to reform our way Ouâ— 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 cropt We dy'd in youth before full growth so was our purpose stopt Let our good will to turne from ill and sin to have forsaken Accepted be O Lord by thee and in good part be taken CIX To whom the Judg Where you alledge the shortness of the space That from your biâ—th you liv'd on earth to compass Sâ—ving Grace It was free-grace that any space waâ— given you at all To turn from evil defie the Devil and upon God to call CX One day one week wherein to seek Gods face with all your hearts A favour was that far did pass the best of your deserts You had a season what was your Reason such preciouâ— 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 joyes that perish in the birth Had you good leisure for Carnal pleasure in days of health and youth And yet no space to seek Gods 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 Hâ—d your intent been to Repent and had you it desir'd There would have been endeavours seen before your time expir'd God makes no â—reasure nor hath he pleasure in idle purpoâ—es Such fair pretences are foul offences and cloaks for wickedness CXIV Then were brought in and charg'd with sin another Compaâ—y Who by Petition obtain'd permission to make apology They argued We were mis-led as is well known to thee By their Example that had more ample abilities than we CXV Such as profest we did detest and hate each wicked way Whose seeming grace whil'st we did trace our Souls were led astray When men of Parts Learning and Arts professing Piety Did thus and thus it seem'd to us we might take liberty CXVI The Judge Replies I gave you eyes aâ—d light to see your way Which had you lov'd and well improv'd you had not gone astray My Word was pure the Rule was sure why did you it forsake Or thereon trample and men's Example your Directory make CXVII This you well know that God is true and that most men are liars In word professing holiness in deed thereof deniersâ— O simple â—ools that having Rules your lives to Regulate Would them refuse and rather chuse vile men to imitate CXVIII But Lord say they we weâ—â— astray and did more wickedly By means of those whom thou hast chose Salvations Heirs to be To whom the Judge What you alledge doth nothing help the case But makes appear how vile you were and rend'reth you more baâ—e CXIX You understood that what was good was to be â—ollowed And that you ought that which was nought to have relinquished Contrariwise it was your guise only to imitate Good mens defects and their neglects that were Regenerate CXX But to express their holiness or imitate their Grace Yet little caâ—'d not once prepar'd your hearts to seek my face They did Repent and truly Rent their hearts for all known sin You did Offend but not Amend to follow them therein CXXI We had thy Word said some O Lord but wiser men then wee 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 car'd to know nor studied And things that were most plain and clear you never practised CXXIII The Mystery of Pieâ—y God unto Babes reveals When to the wise he it denies and from the world coâ—ceals If â—o fulfill Gods holy will had seemed good to you You would have sought light as you ought and done the good yâ—u knew CXXâ—V Then came in view anoâ—her Crew and 'gan to make their plea's Amongst the rest some of the best had such poor â—hifts as these Thou know'st right well who all canst tell we liv'd amongst thy foes Who the Renate did sorely hate and goodness much oppose CXXV We Holiness durst not profess fearing to be forlorn Of all our friends and for amends to be the wicked's scorn We knew theiâ— 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 aw of Gods strict Law and fear mens wrath and thâ—eats To fear Hell-fire and Gods fierce ire less then the rage of men As if Gods wrath could do less scath than wrath of bretheren CXXVII To use such strife to temp'ral life to rescue and secure And be so bâ—ind as not to mind that life that will endure This was youâ— case who carnal peace more then â—â—ue joyes did savour Who fed on dusâ— clave to your lust and spurned at my â—avour CXXVIII To please your kin mens loves to win to flow in woâ—ldly wealth To save your skin these things have bin more than Eternal health You had your choice wherein rejoyce 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 marvellous Thus we believ'd are we deceiv'd 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 Oâ— hear their groans or ruefull moanes and still his wrath retain Can it
agree with equitee can Mercy have the heart To Recompence few years offence with Everlasting smart CXXXII Can God delight in such a sight as sinners Misery Or what great good can this our bloud 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 plac'd at my right hand Whose stripes I bore and clear'd the score that they might quitted stand For surely none but God alone whose Grace transcends 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 pull'd his judgements down How long a space O stiff-neck't 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 noâ— therefore CXXXVIII If into wrath God tuâ—â—ed hath his Long-long â—uffeâ—ing And now for Love you Vengeance prove it is an equal thing Your waxing worse hath stopt the course of wonted Clemency Mercy refus'd and Grace misus'd call for severity CXXXâ—X It 's now high time that every Crime be brought to punishment VVrath long contain'd and oft refrain'd at last must have a vent Justice â—evere cannot foâ—bear to plague sin any longer But must inflict with hand moâ—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 refus'd to hear the voice of Wisdom's cry Earn'd this reward that none regard him in his misery CXLI It doth agree with 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 justâ— and therefore must such suffer endless pains CXLII Eternâ—l smart is the desert ev'n of the least offence 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 liv'd therein who well the danger knew CXLIII God hath no joy to crush or ' stroy and ruine wretched wights But to display the glorious ray of Justice he delights To manifest he doth detest and throughly 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 sign'd to be destroy'd 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 faln Race who can true Grace or Holiness obtain Who can convert or change his heart if God with-hold the same Had we apply'd our selves and tri'd as much as who did most Gods love to gain our busie pain and labour 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 Eâ—d and Meâ—ns to sever Men fondly seek to dart or break what God hath link'd together CXLVIII Whom God will save such he will have the means of life to use Whom he 'l pass by shall chuse to diâ— and ways of life refuse He that fore-sees and fore-decrees in wisdom order'd has That man's free-will electing ill shall bring his Will to pass CXLIX High God's Decree as it is free so doth it none compel Against their will to good or ill iâ— 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 sweâ—v'd and have deserv'd destruction as their own His pleasure is that none fr 〈…〉 ss and endless happiness Be barr'd but such as wrong 〈◊〉 much by wilful wickedness CLI You sinful crew no other knew but you might be elect Why did you then your selves condemn why did you me reject Where was your strife to gain that life which lasteth evermore You never knock't yet say God lock't against you heavens door CLII. 'T was no vain task to knock to ask whilst life continued Who ever sought Heav'n as he ought and seeking perished The lowly-meek who truly seek for Christ and for salvation There 's no Decree whereby such be ordain'd to condemnation CLIII You argue then But abject men whom God resolves to spill Cannot repent nor their hearts rent ne can they change their will Not for his Can is any man adjudged unto hell But for his Will â— to do what 's ill and nilling to do well CLIV. I often stood tend'ring my Bloud to wash away your guilt And eke my Sprite to frame you right lest your souls should be spilt But you vile race rejected Grace when Grace was freely proffer'd No changed heart no heav'nly part would you when it was offer'd CLV Who wilfully the remedy of Grace and Life contemned Cause have the same themselves to blame if now they be coâ—demned You have your selves you and none else your selves have done to die You chose the way to your decay and perish'd wilfully CLVI These words apale and daunt them all dismai'd and all amort Like stocks they stand at Christs left hand and dare no more retort Then were brought near with trembling fear a number numberless Of blind Heathen and bâ—utish men that did Gods 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 refus'd nor it abus'd Oh do not us destroy CLVIII You ne'r abus'd nor yet refus'd my written Word you plead That 's tâ—ue quoth he therefore shall ye the less be punished
yea Serpents generation Who do not fear this doom to hear and sentence of Dâ—mnation CLXXXV This is their state so deâ—perate their sins are fully known Their vaniâ—ies and villanies 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 aâ—d Satisfaction claimeâ—h Gods 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 mouthes are shut each man iâ— put to silence and to shame Nor have they ought within their thought Christs Justice for to blame The Judge is just and plague them must nor will he mercy shew 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 staâ—e for Advocate to plead their Cause there 's none None to prevent their punishment or misery to bemoâ—e CLXXXIX O dismal day whither shall they for help or succour flee To God above with hopes to move their greatest Enemee His wrath is gâ—eat whose burning heat to flood of Tears can â—lake His word stands fast that they be cast into the burning Lake CXC To Chrâ—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 Heav'n Alas they cannot pass it is against them shut To enter there O heavy chear they out of hopes are put CXCI. Uâ—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 're 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 wo 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 mens 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 judgement 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 pierc't 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 damn'd forsaken wight CXCIX The tender Mother will own no other of all her numerous brood But such as stand at Christs right hand acquitted through his Blood The pious Father had now much rather his graceless Son should lye In Hell with Devils for all his evils burning eternally CC. Then God most High should injury by sparing him sustain And doth rejoyce to hear Christs voice adjudging him to pain Who having all both great and small convinc't and silenced Did then proceed their Doom to read and thus it uttered CCI. Ye â—inful wights and cursed sprights that work Iniquity Depart together from me for ever to endless Misery Your portion take in that sad Lake where Fire and Brimstone flameth Suffer the smart which your desert as its duâ— 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 banish't 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-câ—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 terrour They cry they rore for anguish sore and gnaw their tongues for horrour But get away without delay Christ pities not your cry Depart to Hellâ— there may you yell and roar Eternally CCVI. That word Depart maugre their heart drives every wicked one With mighty pow'r the self-same hour far from the Judges throne Away they 're cast by the strong blast of his Death-threatning mouth They â—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 wo 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 for ever Where day and night without respite they wail and cry and howl For tor'â—ring pain which they sustain in Body and in Soul CCX For day and night in their despight their torments smoak ascendeth Their pain and grief have no relief their anguish never endeth There must they lye and never dye though dying every day There must they dying ever lye and not consume away CCXI. Dye fain they would if dye they couâ— but death will not be hadâ—
evermore Let this awaken thy security And make thee look about thee speedily How canst thou rest an hour â—r sleep a night Or in thy creature comforts take delight Or with vain toys thy self forgetful make How near thou art unto the burning Lake How canst thou live without tormenting fears How canst thou hold from weeping flouds of tears Yea tears of bloud 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 sâ—ate he dies Who happy die shall happy rise again Who cursed diâ— shall cursed still remain If under sin and wrath death leaves thee bound At Judgement under wrath thou shalt be found And then wo wo that ever thou wert born O wretched man of heaven and earth forlorn Consider this all ye that God forget Who all his threatnings at nought do set Leâ—â— into pieces he begin to tear Your souls and there be no deliverâ—r O you that now sing care and fear away Think oâ—ten of that â—ormidable day Wherein the Heav'ns with a mighty noise And with an hideous heart-confounding voice Shall pass away together being roll'd As men are wont their garments up to fold When th' Elements with â—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 your selves begin For all your damned sloth and negligence And unbelief and gross impenitence When you shall hear that dreadful Sentence pasâ— That all the wicked into hell be cast What horrour will your consciences â—uâ—prise 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 flie out of hell And view the Dungeon where you are to dwell Wherein you must eternally remain In anguish and intollerable pain What when your hands and feet are bound togetheâ— And you are cast into that Lake for ever 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 perillous and deadly way We who have known and felt Jehovah's terrours Perswade men to repent them of their errours 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 inclosed 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 kindneâ—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 â—ee Gods 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 my self refresh With those delights that gratifie the flesh And yet repent before it be too late And get into a comfortable state I hope I have yet mâ—ny years to spend And time enough those matters to attend Presumptuous heart is God engag'd 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 with 't another morrow O foolish man who lovest to enjoy That which will thee distress or else destroy What gained Samson by his Dalilah What gained David by his Bâ—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 eas'ly change his skin As old tranâ—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 â—or thy sins to mourn But think how many have been snatch'd 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 dyâ— And late Repentance seldom proveth true Which if it fail thou know'st 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 't is thy sin so is it Satans wile Whereby he doth great multitudes beguileâ— How many thousands hath this strong delusion Already brought to ruin and conâ—usion Whose souls are now reserv'd 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 to morrow 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 terrour say This night shall Devils â—etch thy Soul away Now seek the face of God with all thy heart Acknowledge unto him how vile thou art â—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