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
quite disgrace my cheer LXXVII Durst you draw near without due fear unto my holy Table Duâ—st you prophane 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 duâ—st you venture bold guests to enter in such a â—ordid hiâ—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 rendred vile so rare and great salvation LXXIX Your fancies fed on heav'nly bread your hearts fed on some lust You lov'd the Creature more then th'Creator your soules clave to the dust And think you by hypocrisie and cloaked wickedness To enter in laden with sin to lasting happiness LXXX This your excuse shews your abuse of things ordain'd for good And do declare you guilty are of my dear Flesh and Bloud 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 't is 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 pray'd and wept we Fast-days kept lewd ways we did eschew We joyful were thy Word to hâ—ar we foâ—m'd our lives anew LXXXIII We thought our sin had pardon'd biâ— that our estate was good Our debts all paid â—ur peace well made our Souls washâ— wiâ—h â—hy Bâ—oud Lord why dost thou rejâ—ct us now who have not thee rejected Nor utterly true sanctity and holy liâ—e neglected LXXXIV The Judge inceâ—sed at their pretenced self-vaunting piety With such a look as trembling strook into them made reply O impudent impeniâ—ent and guileâ—ul generation Think you that I cannot descry your hearts abomination LXXXV You not receiv'd nor yet believâ—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 childrens bread yet would not sin forsake LXXXVI Bâ—ing too bold you laid fast hold where int'â—est you had none Your selves deceiving by your believing all which you might have known You â—an away but ran astray with Gospel promises And perished being still dead in sins and trespasseâ— LXXXVII How oft did I hypocrisie and hearts deceits unmask Before your sight giving you lighâ— 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 reâ—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 pray'd and wept you Fast-days kept but did you this to me No but for â—â—n you sought to win the greater liberteâ— For all your vaunts you had vile haunt's for which your consciences Did you alarm whose voice to charm you us'd these practises XC Your penitence your diligence to read to pray to hear Were but to drown the clam'rous sound of conscience in your eaâ—â— If light you lov'd vain-glory mov'd your selves therewith to store Thâ—t seeming wise men might you prize and honour you the more XCI Thus from your selves unto your selves your duties all do tend And as self-love the wheels do move so in self-love they end Thus Châ—ist detects their vain projects and close impiety And plainly shews that all their shows were but hypocrisie XCII Then were brought nigh a company of â—ivil honest men That lov'd true dealing and hated stealing â—e wrong'd their brethren Who pleaded thus Thou knowest us that we were blameleâ—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 vertuous 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 rewaâ—d with thee O Lord this day And whereas we transgressors be of Adam's Race were nâ—ne No not the best but have confesâ—â—â— themselves to hâ—ve misâ—one XCVI Then answered unâ—o their dread the Judge True piety God doth desire and eke requiâ—e no less then honesty Justice demands at all your hands perfect Obedience If but in part you have come shâ—â—â— that is a just offence XCVII On earth below where men did owe a thousand pounds and more Could twenty pence it recompence could that have clear'd the score Think you to buy felicity with part of what 's due debt Oâ— 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 hâ—th bin Before mens eyes yet God espies iniquity therein XCIX God looks upon th'â—ffâ—ction and temper of the heart Not only on the action and the external part Whatever end vain men pretend God knows the vâ—riâ—yâ— 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 siâ—ful wight And withouâ— 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 shews your intent in all that you have done You thought to â—cale heavens lofty wall by ladders oâ— your own CII Your blinded spirit hoping to merit by your own righteousness Needed no Saviour but your bâ—haviour and blameless caâ—riagesâ— You trusted to what you could do and in no need you stood Your haughty pride laid me aside and trampled on my Bloud CIII All men have gone astray and done that which God's Lawâ— 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 Bâ—ll that made you swell and your own selves admire Mâ—an fruiâ— it is and vile I wis that spâ—ings from
to bear Gods Vengeance for EVER The thought of this more bitter is then all they feel beside Yet what they feel nor heart of steel roâ— flesh of brass can ' bide XXI To lie in wo 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 intollerable This makes frail wights and damned sprighâ— to bear their Plagues unable This makes men bite for â—ell despite their very tongues in twain This makes them roar for great horâ—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 'l 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 Gâ—ds Image made to be partaker Upon the wings of noblest Faculties Taught for to soar above the starry skies And noâ— to rest until it understood It self possessed oâ— the chiefest Goodâ— And since the Faâ—l thy â—oul retaineth still The Faculties of Reason and of Will But Oh! how much deprav'd and out of â—rame As if they were some others not the same Thine Understanding dismally benighted And Reasons eye in spir'tual things dimâ—sightedâ— Or else stark blind thy Will inclin'd to evil And nothing else a slave unto the Devilâ— That loves to live and liveth to transgress But shuns thâ— 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 wandrings 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 horrour think upon thy doom Until thy soul be washed in the floud Of Christs most dear soul-cleansing precious bloud That that alone can do away thy sin Which thou wert born and hast long lived in That only that can pacifie Gods wrath If apprehended by a lively faith Now whil'st the day and means of grace doth last Before the opportunity be pastâ— But if O man thou liv'st a Christless creature And death surprize thee in a state of nature As who can tell but that may be thy â—ase How wilt thou stand before thy Judges face When he shall be reveal'd in flaming fireâ— 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 wiâ—h thee expostulate What cause hadst thou thy Maker for to hate To take up arms against thy Soveraign And enmity against him to maintain What injury hath God Almighty done thee What good hath he withheld that might have woâ— thee What evil or injustice hast thou found In him that might unto thy hurt redound If neither felt nor â—eared injury Hath moved thee to such hostility What made thee then the Fountain to forsake And unto broken Pits thy self betake What reason hadst thou to dishonour God Who theâ— with Mercies never ceast 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 oâ— Gods great paâ—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 Heav'ns 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 bin But thou vile wretch hast added unto all Thine other faults and facts so criminal The damning sin of wilful Unbelief Of all Transgressors hadst thou been the chief Yet when time was thou mightst 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 Gods Law Were not enough upon thy head to draw Eteâ—nal wrath thou hast despis'd a Saviour Rejected me and trampled on my favour How oâ—t have I sâ—ood knocking aâ— 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 thy self 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 errours And fill thy face with his amazing terrours And let thee see the flaming pit of hell Where all that have no part in him shall dwel When he shall thus expoâ—â—ulate the case How cansâ— 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 offences Can any thing 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 thy self 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 oâ— hell which are so great Iâ— then thou neither cansâ— his wrath endure Nor any ransome after death procure If neither Cries nor Tears can move his heart To pardon thee or mitigate thy smartâ— But unto Hell thou must perforce be sent With dismal horrour 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 Gods anger Thou hangest over the infernal pit By one small thread and car'sâ— thou not a whit There 's but a sâ—ep between thy soul and death Nothing remains but stopping of thy breath Which may be done to morrow 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 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