Part 4

A wondrous crowd then 'gan aloud thus for themselves to say: "We did intend, Lord, to amend, and to reform our way. Our true intent was to repent and make our peace with thee; But sudden death stopping our breath, left us no liberty.

CVIII.

"Short was our time, for in its prime our youthful pow'r was cropt; We died in youth before full growth, so was our purpose stopt. Let our good will to turn from ill, and sin to have forsaken, Accepted be, O Lord, by thee, and in good part be taken."

CIX.

[Sidenote: Are confuted and convinced. Eccl. 12:1. Rev. 2:21.]

To whom the Judge: "Where you allege the shortness of the space, That from your birth you liv'd on earth, to compass saving Grace, It was Free Grace that any space was given you at all, To turn from evil, defy the Devil, and upon God to call.

CX.

[Sidenote: Luke 13:24. 2 Cor. 6:2. Heb. 3:7, 8, 9.]

"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 precious hours to waste? What could you find, what could you mind that was of greater haste?

CXI.

[Sidenote: Eccl. 11:9 Luke 14:18, 19, 20.]

"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.

[Sidenote: Amos 6:3, 4, 5, 6. Eph. 5:16. Luke 19:42.]

"In younger years, beyond your fears, what if you were surprizéd? You put away the evil day, and of long life deviséd. You oft were told, and might behold, that Death no Age doth spare; Why then did you your time foreslow, and slight your soul's welfare?

CXIII.

[Sidenote: Luke 13:24, 25, etc. Phil. 2:12.]

"Had your intent been to repent, and had you it desir'd, There would have been endeavors seen before your time expir'd. God makes no treasure, nor hath he pleasure in idle purposes; Such fair pretenses are foul offenses, and cloaks for wickedness."

CXIV.

[Sidenote: Some plead examples of their betters. Mat. 18:7.]

Then were brought in and charg'd with sin, another Company, Who by Petition obtain'd permission to make Apology. They arguéd, "We were misled, as is well known to thee, By their example that had more ample abilities than we;

CXV.

[Sidenote: John 7:48].

"Such as profess'd they 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 seem'd to us we might take liberty."

CXVI.

[Sidenote: Who are told that examples are no Rules. Psal. 19:8, 11. Exod. 23:2. Psal. 50:17, 18.]

The Judge replies: "I gave you eyes, And light to see your way, Which had you lov'd and well improv'd, you had not gone astray. My Word was pure, the Rule was sure; Why did you it forsake, Or thereon trample, and men's example your Directory make?

CXVII.

[Sidenote: 2 Tim. 3:5.]

"This you well knew: that God is true, and that most men are liars, In word professing holiness, in deed thereof deniers. O simple fools! that having Rules, your lives to regulate, Would them refuse, and rather choose vile men to imitate."

CXVIII.

[Sidenote: They urge that they were led by godly men's Examples. But all their shifts turn to their greater shame.]

"But, Lord," say they, "we went astray, and did more wickedly, By means of those whom thou hast chose Salvation's heirs to be." To whom the Judge: "What you allege doth nothing help the case, But makes appear how vile you were, and rend'reth you more base.

CXIX.

[Sidenote: 1 Cor. 11:1. Phil. 4:8.]

"You understood that what was good, was to be followéd, And that you ought that which was naught to have relinquishéd. Contrariwise it was your guise only to imitate Good men's defects, and their neglects who were regenerate.

CXX.

[Sidenote: Psal. 32:5. 2 Chron. 32:26. Mat. 26:75. Prov. 1:24, 25.]

"But to express their holiness, or imitate their grace, You little car'd, nor once prepar'd your hearts to seek my Face. They did repent and truly rent their hearts for all known sin; You did offend, but not amend, to follow them therein."

CXXI.

[Sidenote: Some plead the Scriptures' darkness, and difference among Interpreters. 2 Pet. 3:16.]

"We had thy Word," say some, "O Lord, but wiser men than we Could never yet interpret it, but always disagree. How could we fools be led by Rules so far beyond our ken, Which to explain did so much pain and puzzle wisest men?"

CXXII.

[Sidenote: They are confuted. Prov. 14:6. Isa. 35:8. Hos. 8:12.]

"Was all my Word abstruse and hard?" the Judge then answeréd; "It did contain much Truth so plain you might have run and read. But what was hard you never car'd to know, or studiéd; And things that were most plain and clear you never practiséd.

CXXIII.

[Sidenote: Mat. 11:25. Prov. 2:3, 4, 5.]

"The Mystery of Piety God unto Babes reveals, When to the Wise he it denies, and from the world conceals. If to fulfil God's holy Will had seeméd good to you, You would have sought light as you ought, and done the good you knew."

CXXIV.

[Sidenote: Others the fear of persecution. Acts 28:22.]

Then came in view another crew, and 'gan to make their pleas; Amongst the rest, some of the best had such poor shifts as these: "Thou know'st right well, who all canst tell, we liv'd amongst thy foes, Who the Renate did sorely hate and goodness much oppose.

CXXV.

[Sidenote: John 12:42, 43.]

"We holiness durst not profess, fearing to be forlorn Of all our friends, and for amends to be the wicked's scorn. We knew their anger would much endanger our lives and our estates; Therefore, for fear, we durst appear no better than our mates."

CXXVI.

[Sidenote: They are answered. Luke 12:4, 5. Isa. 51:12, 13.]

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 threats; To fear hell-fire and God's fierce ire less than the rage of men; As if God's wrath could do less scath than wrath of bretheren!

CXXVII.

"To use such strife, a temp'ral life to rescue and secure, And be so blind as not to mind that life that will endure! This was your case, who carnal peace more than true joys did savor; Who fed on dust, clave to your lust, and spurnéd at my favor.

CXXVIII.

[Sidenote: Luke 9:23, 24, 25, and 16:2.]

"To please your kin, men's love to win, to flow in worldly wealth, To save your skin, these things have been more than Eternal health. You had your choice, wherein rejoice; it was your porti-on, For which you chose your souls t' expose unto Perditi-on.

CXXIX.

[Sidenote: Luke 9:26. Prov. 8:36. John 3:19, 20.]

"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 to die for aye, who death than life had rather; Death is their due that so value the friendship of my Father."

CXXX.

[Sidenote: Others plead for pardon both from God's Mercy and Justice. Psal. 78:38. 2 Kin. 14:26.]

Others argue, and not a few, "Is not God graci-ous? His Equity and Clemency, are they not marvellous? Thus we believ'd; are we deceiv'd? Cannot his Mercy great, (As hath been told to us of old,) assuage his anger's heat?

CXXXI.

"How can it be that God should see his Creatures' endless pain, Or hear their groans and rueful moans, and still his wrath retain? Can it agree with Equity, can Mercy have the heart, To recompense few years' offense with everlasting smart?

CXXXII.

[Sidenote: Psal. 30:9. Mic. 7:18.]

"Can God delight in such a sight as sinners' misery? Or what great good can this our blood bring unto the most High? O thou that dost thy Glory most in pard'ning sin display, Lord, might it please thee to release and pardon us this day!

CXXXIII.

"Unto thy name more glorious fame would not such Mercy bring? Would not it raise thine endless praise, more than our suffering?" With that they cease, holding their peace, but cease not still to weep; Grief ministers a flood of tears, in which their words do steep.

CXXXIV.

[Sidenote: They are answered.]

But all too late; grief's out of date, when Life is at an end. The glorious King thus answering, all to his voice attend: "God gracious is," quoth he; "like his, no mercy can be found: His Equity and Clemency to sinners do abound,

CXXXV.

[Sidenote: Mercy now shines forth in the vessels of Mercy. Mic. 7:18. Rom. 9:23.]

"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 men's thought, For such as those that were his foes like wonders would have wrought.

CXXXVI.

[Sidenote: Did also wait upon such as abused it. Rom. 2:4. Hos. 11:4.]

"And none but he such lenity and patience would have shown To you so long, who did him wrong, and pull'd his Judgment down. How long a space, O stiff-neck'd race, did patience you afford? How oft did love you gently move, to turn unto the Lord?

CXXXVII.

[Sidenote: Luke 13:34. The day of Grace now past.]

"With chords 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 Mercy's room, yet grudge you not therefore.

CXXXVIII.

[Sidenote: Luke 19:42, 43. Jude 4.]

"If into wrath God turnéd hath his long, long-suffering, And now for love you vengeance prove, it is an equal thing. Your waxing worse hath stopt the course of wonted Clemency, Mercy refus'd and Grace misus'd call for severity.

CXXXIX.

[Sidenote: Rom. 2:5, 6. Isa. 1:24. Amos 2:18. Gen. 18:25.]

"It's now high time that ev'ry Crime be brought to punishment; Wrath long contain'd and oft restrain'd, at last must have a vent. Justice severe cannot forbear to plague sin any longer, But must inflict with hand most strict mischief upon the wronger.

CXL.

[Sidenote: Mat. 25:3, 1, 2. Prov. 12:8, 29, 30.]

"In vain do they for Mercy pray, the season being past, Who had no care to get a share therein, while time did last. The man whose ear refus'd to hear the voice of Wisdom's cry, Earn'd this reward, that none regard him in his misery.

CXLI.

[Sidenote: Isa. 5:18, 19. Gen. 2:17. Rom. 2:8, 9.]

It doth agree with Equity and with God's holy Law, That those should die eternally that Death upon them draw. The soul that sins Damnation wins, for so the Law ordains; Which Law is just; and therefore must such suffer endless pains.

CXLII.

[Sidenote: Rom. 6:23. 2 Thes. 1:8, 9.]

"Eternal smart is the desert ev'n of the least offense; Then wonder not if I allot to you this Recompense; But wonder more that since so sore and lasting plagues are due To every sin, you liv'd therein, who well the danger knew.

CXLIII.

[Sidenote: Ezek. 33:11. Exod. 34:7, and 14:17. Rom. 9:22.]

"God hath no joy to crush or 'stroy, and ruin wretched wights; But to display the glorious Ray of Justice he delights. To manifest he doth detest, and throughly hate all sin, By plaguing it as is most fit— this shall him Glory win."

CXLIV.

[Sidenote: Some pretend they were shut out of Heaven by God's Decree. Rom. 9:18, 19.]

Then at the Bar arraignéd 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.

[Sidenote: Heb. 22:17. Rom. 11:7, 8.]

"Whom God ordains to endless pains by Law unalterable, Repentance true, Obedience new, to save such are unable. Sorrow for sin no good can win, to such as are rejected; Nor can they grieve nor yet believe, that never were elected.

CXLVI.

"Of Man's fall'n race, who can true Grace or Holiness obtain? Who can convert or change his heart, if God withhold the same? Had we applied ourselves and tried as much as who did most, God's love to gain, our busy pain and labor had been lost."

CXLVII.

[Sidenote: Their pleas taken off. Luke 13:27. 2 Pet. 1:9, 10, compared with Mat. 19:16.]

Christ readily makes this Reply: "I damn you not because You are rejected, nor yet elected; but you have broke my Laws. It is in vain your wits to strain the end and means to sever; Men fondly seek to part or break what God hath link'd together.

CXLVIII.

[Sidenote: Acts 3:19, and 16:31. 1 Sam. 2:15. John 3:19. Job 5:40. 2 Thes. 2:11, 12.]

"Whom God will save, such he will have the means of life to use; Whom he'll pass by shall choose to die, and ways of life refuse. He that fore-sees and fore-decrees, in wisdom order'd has, That man's free-will, electing ill, shall bring his Will to pass.

CXLIX.

[Sidenote: Ezek. 33:11, 12. Luke 13:34. Prov. 8:33, 36.]

"High God's Decree, as it is free, so doth it none compel Against their will to good or ill; it forceth none to Hell. They have their wish whose Souls perish with Torments in Hell-fire, Who rather choose their souls to lose, than leave a loose desire.

CL.

[Sidenote: Gen. 2:17. Mat. 25:41, 42. Ezek. 18:20.]

"God did ordain sinners to pain, yet he to Hell sends none But such as swerv'd and have deserv'd destruction as their own. His pleasure is, that none from Bliss and endless happiness Be barr'd, but such as wrong'd him much, by willful wickedness.

CLI.

[Sidenote: 2 Pet. 1:10. Acts 13:46. Luke 13:24.]

"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 knock'd, yet say God lock'd against you Heaven's door.

CLII.

[Sidenote: Mat. 7:7, 8. Gal. 5:22, 23.]

"Twas no vain task to knock and ask, whilst life continuéd. Who ever sought Heav'n as he ought, and seeking perishéd? The lowly, meek, who truly seek for Christ and for Salvation, There's no decree whereby such be ordain'd to condemnation.

CLIII.

[Sidenote: John 3:19.]

"You argue then: 'But abject men, whom God resolves to spill, Cannot repent, nor their hearts rent; nor can they change their will.' Not for his _Can_ is any man adjudgéd unto Hell, But for his _Will_ to do what's ill, and nilling to do well.

CLIV.

[Sidenote: John 5:40.]

"I often stood tend'ring my Blood to wash away your guilt, And eke my Sprite to frame you right, lest your Souls should be spilt. But you, vile Race, rejected Grace, when Grace was freely proffer'd, No changéd heart, no heav'nly part would you, when it was offer'd.

CLV.

[Sidenote: John 15:22, 24. Heb. 2:3. Isa. 66:34.]

"Who willfully the remedy, and means of life contemnéd, Cause have the same themselves to blame, if now they be condemnéd. You have yourselves, you and none else, to blame that you must die; You chose the way to your decay, and perish'd willfully."

CLVI.

These words appall and daunt them all, dismay'd and all amort, Like stocks that stand at Christ's left hand and dare no more retort. Then were brought near with trembling fear, a number numberless, Of Blind Heathen and brutish men, that did God's Law transgress;

CLVII.

[Sidenote: Heathen men plead want of the Written Word.]

Whose wicked ways Christ open lays, and makes their sins appear, They making pleas their case to ease, if not themselves to clear. "Thy Written Word," say they, "good Lord, we never did enjoy; We ne'er refus'd, nor it abus'd; Oh, do not us destroy!"

CLVIII.

[Sidenote: Mat. 11:22. Luke 12:48.]

"You ne'er abus'd, nor yet refus'd my Written Word, you plead; That's true," quoth he, "therefore shall ye the less be punishéd. You shall not smart for any part of other men's offense, But for your own transgressi-on receive due recompense."

CLIX.

[Sidenote: 1 Cor. 1:21, Insufficiency of the light of Nature.]

"But we were blind," say they, "in mind; too dim was Nature's Light, Our only guide, as hath been tried, to bring us to the sight Of our estate degenerate, and curs'd by Adam's Fall; How we were born and lay forlorn in bondage and in thrall.

CLX.

[Sidenote: Mat. 11:22.]

"We did not know a Christ till now, nor how fall'n men be savéd, Else would we not, right well we wot, have so ourselves behavéd. We should have mourn'd, we should have turn'd from sin at thy Reproof, And been more wise through thy advice, for our own soul's behoof.

CLXI.

[Sidenote: They are answered.]

"But Nature's light shin'd not so bright, to teach us the right way: We might have lov'd it and well improv'd 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 Heav'nward to bend.

CLXII.

[Sidenote: Gen. 1:27. Eccl. 7:29. Hos. 13:9.]

"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 defac'd the same, Your own desert hath caus'd the smart; you ought not me to blame.

CLXIII.

[Sidenote: Mat. 11:25, compared with 20:15.]

"Yourselves into a pit of woe, your own transgression led; If I to none my Grace had shown, who had been injuréd? If to a few, and not to you, I shew'd a way of life, My Grace so free, you clearly see, gives you no ground of strife.

CLXIV.

[Sidenote: Rom. 1:20, 21, 22.]

"'Tis vain 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, Nor done the good you understood, nor ownéd your Creator.

CLXV.

[Sidenote: Rom. 2:12, 15, and 1:32. Mat. 12:41.]

"He that the Light, because 'tis slight, hath uséd to despise, Would not the Light shining more bright, be likely for to prize. If you had lov'd, and well improv'd your knowledge and dim sight, Herein your pain had not been vain, your plagues had been more light."

CLXVI.

[Sidenote: Reprobate Infants plead for themselves. Rev. 20:12, 15, compared with Rom. 5:12, 14, and 9:11, 13. Ezek. 18:2.]

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 carriéd, (Or at the least ere they transgress'd) who thus began to plead:

CLXVII.

"If for our own transgressi-on, or disobedience, We here did stand at thy left hand, just were the Recompense; But Adam's guilt our souls hath spilt, his fault is charg'd upon us; And that alone hath overthrown and utterly undone us.

CLXVIII.

"Not we, but he ate of the Tree, whose fruit was interdicted; Yet on us all of his sad Fall the punishment's inflicted. How could we sin that had not been, or how is his sin our, Without consent, which to prevent we never had the pow'r?

CLXIX.

[Sidenote: Psal. 51:5.]

"O great Creator why was our Nature depravéd and forlorn? Why so defil'd, and made so vil'd, whilst we were yet unborn? If it be just, and needs we must transgressors reckon'd be, Thy Mercy, Lord, to us afford, which sinners hath set free.

CLXX.

"Behold we see Adam set free, and sav'd from his trespass, 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, who was the chief offender?"

CLXXI.

[Sidenote: Their arguments taken off. Ezek. 18:20. Rom. 5:12, 19.]

Then answeréd the Judge most dread: "God doth such doom forbid, That 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.

[Sidenote: 1 Cor. 15:48, 49.]

"He was design'd 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 establishéd In God's true love never to move, nor once awry to tread; Then all his Race my Father's Grace should have enjoy'd for ever, And wicked Sprites by subtile sleights could them have harméd never.

CLXXIV.

"Would you have griev'd to have receiv'd through Adam so much good, As had been your for evermore, if he at first had stood? Would you have said, 'We ne'er obey'd nor did thy laws regard; It ill befits with benefits, us, Lord, to so reward?'

CLXXV.

[Sidenote: Rom. 5:12. Psal. 51:5. Gen. 5:3.]

"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 depravéd; Death was your due because that you had thus yourselves behavéd.

CLXXVI.

[Sidenote: Mat. 23:30, 31.]

"You think 'If we had been as he, whom God did so betrust, We to our cost would ne'er 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.

[Sidenote: Rom. 9:15, 18. The free gift. Rom. 5:15.]

"I may deny you once to try, or Grace to you to tender, Though he finds Grace before my face who was the chief offender; Else should my Grace cease to be Grace, for it would not be free, If to release whom I should please I have no liberty.

CLXXVIII.

"If upon one what's due to none I frankly shall bestow, And on the rest shall not think best compassion's 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.

[Sidenote: Mat. 20:15.]

"Am I alone of what's my own, no Master or no Lord? And if I am, how can you claim what I to some afford? Will you demand Grace at my hand, and challenge what is mine? Will you teach me whom to set free, and thus my Grace confine?

CLXXX.

[Sidenote: Psal. 58:8. Rom. 6:23. Gal. 3:10. Rom 8:29, 30 and 11:7. Rev. 21:27. Luke 12:14, 8. Mat. 11:22.]

"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 liv'd a longer time, I do confess yours is much less, though every sin's a crime.

CLXXXI.

[Sidenote: The wicked all convinced and put to silence. Rom. 3:19. Mat. 22:12.]