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
sheep do stâ—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 offâ—nce to Christ their Judge appealed XXIII Next unto whom there find a room all Christs â—fflicted oneâ— Who being chastis'd neither despis'd nor sank amidsts their gâ—oans Who by the Rod were turn'd to God and loved him the more Nâ—â— murmuring nor quarrellingâ— when they were chast'ned sore XXIV Moreover such as loved much that had not such a trial As might constrain to so great pain and such deep selâ—-denial Yet ready were the Cross to bear when Christ them call'd thereto And did rejoyce to hear his voice they 'r 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 dy'd Whom â—or his own by ways unknown to men he sanctify'd XXVI All stand before their Saviour in long white Robes â—clad Their countenance â—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 Christs 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 Apostata'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 reserv'd to pain and torments most severe Because 'gainst light they sinn'd with spight are also placed there XXIX There also stand a num'rous band that no profession made Of Godliness nor to redress their wayes at all assay'd Who better knew but sinâ—ul Crewâ— 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 Gods Law transgress Idolaters false Worshippers Prophaners of Gods 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 contemn'd his Rod and lov'd security Sabbath-polluters Saints Persecuters Presumptuous men and Proud Who never lov'd those that reprov'd all stand amongst this crowd XXXII Adulterers and Whoremongers were there with all unchast There Covetouâ— and Ravenous that Riches got too fast Who us'd 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 flâ—gitious And Parents who did them undo by nature vicious False-witness-bearers and self-forswearers Murd'rers and men of blood Witches Inchanters 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 reâ—used There stand all Nations and Generations of Adam's Progeny Whom Christ redeem'd not who Christ esteem'd not throught infidelity XXXV Who no Peace-maker no Undertaker to shrowd 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 fill'd 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 'T was 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 chearfully 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 my self t' endure 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 bloud I spent to save them from Hell fire XLII Thus I esteem'd thus I redeem'd 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 â—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 chuse or else refuse all men to save or spill May this man chuse and that refuse redeeming whom he will XLIV But as for those whom I have chose Salvations heirs to be I uâ—derwent their punishment and therefore set them free I bore their grief and their relief by suffering procur'd That they of bliss and happiness â—ight firmly be assur'd XLV And this my gâ—ace they did embrace believing on my name Which Faith was true the fruits do shew proceeding from the same Their Penitence their Patience their Love their Self-denâ—al In suffering losses and bearing crosses when put upon the trial XLVI Their sin forsaking their cheerful taking my yoke their chariâ—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 Heirâ— 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 â—elicitee Henceforth no fears no care no tears no sin shal you annoy Nor any thing that grief doth bring eternal rest enjoy XLIX You bore the Cross you suffered loss of all â—or my Names sake Receive the Crown that 's now your own come and a kingdom take
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 heav'nly Crown crown all the rest Devils are Potentates and yet not blest Go on base dunghil-souls heap gold as miâ—â— Sweep silver as the dust emulate Tyre Fill every Ware-house purchase every Field Add house to house Pelion on Ossa build â—â—t Mida's vote to transubstantiate â—hate'r you plâ—ase all into golden plate â—uild wider Barns sing requiem to your heart â—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 minâ— Tâ—at solid and enduring GOOD to fiâ—d Which sweetens life and death which will encrease Oâ— an immortal Soul immorâ—al peace Which will replenish and advance you higher Then ere your own Ambition could aspire Fear your great Maker with a child-like aw 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 wiâ—â— Blisâ— Be kind unto your selves believe and try If not go on fill up your lusts and die Sing peace unto your selves 't will once be knoâ— Whose word shall stand your Judg's or your owâ— Crown thee with Rose-buds satiate thine eyes Glut every sense with her own vanities Melt into pleasures until that which Lust Dâ—d not before consume rot into dust The Thrones are set the Books wil strait be reaâ— Hell will her Souls graves give up their deaâ— Then there will be and the time is not far Fiâ—e on the Bench and Stubble at the Bar. O sinners ruminate these thoughts agen You have been Beast enough at last be Men. Chrisâ— â—et intreats but if you will not turn Wheâ—e Gâ—â—ce will not convert there Fire wil bâ—â—â— A SHORT DISCOURSE ABOUT ETERNITY I. WHat mortal man can wiâ—h hâ—s span mete out Eternity Or fathom it by depth of wit or strength of memory The lofty skie is not so high hell's depth to this is small The world so wide is but a stride compâ—red herewithall 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 Floud 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 showr's that bring forth Flowr's and Blossoms plenteously VI. Number the Fowls and living Souls that through the air do flie The winged Hosts in all the Coasts beneath the starry Skie 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 Atomâ—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 suâ—mount VIII Nought joyn'd to Nought can â—e'â— 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 Heav'n above Who know withall 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 for ever farewell ease O sad estate and desperate that never can be mended Until Gods will shall change or â—ill Eternity â—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 for ever And hear of fire that shall expire or be extinguish'd never XIV I 'l 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 Heav'n shall cease to flow with peace and all felicity Then Hell may cease to be the place of wo and misery XV. When Heav'n is Hell when Ill is Well when Vertue turns to Vice When Wrong is Right when Dâ—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 ceaâ—e to love when God shall cease to reign And be no more as heretofore the woâ—lds great Soveraign Or not be just or favour lust oâ— in mens â—iâ—s delight Then wicked men and not till then to Heav'n may take their flight XVII When Gods great Power shall be brought lower by forein Puissance Or be decay'd and weaker made through Times continuance When drousiness 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 Châ—ists Fâ—iends and Heirs of Heaven hight XIX Then Ah poor men what not till then nâ— not an hour before For God is just and therefore must toâ—ment them evermore Eternity Eternity thou mak'st 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
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