say some, “and eaten there.
Did we not eat thy Flesh for meat,
and feed on Heav’nly Cheer?
Whereon who feed shall never need,
as thou thyself dost say,
Nor shall they die eternally,
but live with Christ for aye.
LXXV.
“We may allege, thou gav’st a pledge
of thy dear Love to us,
In Wine and Bread, which figuréd
thy Grace bestowéd thus.
Of strength’ning Seals, of sweetest Meals,
have we so oft partaken;
And shall we be cast off by thee,
and utterly forsaken?“
_The answer._
LXXVI. [65]
To whom the Lord, thus in a word,
returns a short reply:
“I never knew any of you
that wrought Iniquity.
You say you’ve been my Presence in;
but then, how came you there
With Raiment vile that did defile
and quite disgrace my Cheer?
LXXVII.
“Durst you draw near without due fear
Unto my holy Table?
Durst you profane and render vain,
so far as you were able,
Those Mysteries, which whoso prize,
and carefully improve,
Shall savéd be undoubtedly,
and nothing shall them move?
LXXVIII. [66]
“How durst you venture bold guests to enter
in such a sordid hue,
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 render’d vile
so rare and great Salvation?
LXXIX. [67]
“Your fancies fed on heav’nly Bread,
your hearts fed on some Lust;
You lov’d the Creature more than th’ Creator,
your souls clove to the dust.
And think you by Hypocrisy,
and cloakéd Wickedness,
To enter in laden with sin,
to lasting Happiness?
LXXX. [68]
“This your excuse shews your abuse
of things ordain’d for good.
And doth declare you guilty are
of my dear Flesh and Blood.
Wherefore those Seals and precious Meals
you put so much upon
As things Divine, they Seal and Sign
you to Perditi-on.“
_Another sort of Hypocrites make their pleas._
LXXXI.
Then forth issue another Crew
(those being silencéd),
Who drawing nigh to the Most High,
adventure thus to plead:
“We sinners were,” say they, “’tis clear,
deserving condemnation;
But did not we rely on thee,
O Christ, for whole Salvation?
LXXXII. [69]
“We did believe, and oft receive
thy gracious Promises;
We took great care to get a share
in endless Happiness.
We pray’d and wept, and Fast-days kept,
lewd ways we did eschew;
We joyful were thy Word to hear;
we form’d our lives anew.
LXXXIII.[70]
“We thought our sin had pardon’d been,
that our Estate was good,
Our debts all paid, our peace well made,
our Souls wash’d with thy Blood.
Lord, why dost though reject us now,
who have not thee rejected,
Nor utterly true sanctity
and holy life neglected?“
_The Judge uneaseth them._
LXXXIV. [71]
The Judge incens’d at their pretens’d
self-vaunting Piety,
With such a look as trembling strook
unto them made reply:
“O impudent, impenitent,
and guileful generation!
Think you that I cannot descry
your hearts’ abomination?
LXXXV. [72]
“You nor receiv’d, nor yet believ’d
my Promises of Grace,
Nor were you wise enough to prize
my reconciléd Face;
But did presume that to assume
which was not yours to take,
And challengéd the Children’s Bread,
yet would not sin forsake.
LXXXVI. [73]
“Being too bold you laid fast hold
where int’rest you had none,
Yourselves deceiving by your believing,
all which you might have known.
You ran away but ran astray
with Gospel Promises,
And perishéd, being still dead
in sins and trespasses.
LXXXVII. [74]
“How oft did I Hypocrisy
and Hearts’ deceits unmask
Before your sight, giving you light
know a Christian’s task?
But you held fast unto the last
your own conceits so vain,
No warning could prevail; you would
your own Deceits retain.
LXXXVIII. [75]
“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. [76]
“You pray’d and wept, you Fast-days kept,
but did you this to me?
No, but for sin you sought to win
the greater liberty.
For all your vaunts, you had vile haunts,
which for your Consciences
Did you alarm, whose voice to charm
you us’d these practices.
XC. [77]
“Your Penitence, your diligence
to Read, to Pray, to Hear,
Were but to drown the clam’rous sound
of Conscience in your Ear.
If light you lov’d, vain glory mov’d
yourselves therewith to store,
That seeming wise men might you prize,
and honor you the more.
XCI. [78]
“Thus from yourselves unto yourselves,
your duties all do tend;
And as self-love the wheels doth move,
so in self-love they end.“
Thus Christ detects their vain projects,
and close Impiety,
And plainly shews that all their shows
were but Hypocrisy.
_Civil honest men’s pleas._
XCII. [79]
Then were brought nigh a Company
of Civil honest Men, Civil honest
That lov’d true dealing and hated stealing,
ne’er wrong’d their Bretheren;
Who pleaded thus: “Thou knowest us
that we were blameless livers;
No Whoremongers, no Murderers,
no quarrelers nor strivers.
XCIII.
“Idolaters, Adulterers,
Church-robbers we were none,
Nor false dealers, nor cozeners,
but paid each man his own.
Our way was fair, our dealing square,
we were no wasteful spenders,
No lewd toss-pots, no drunken sots,
no scandalous offenders.
XCIV. [80]
“We hated vice and set great price,
by virtuous conversation;
And by the same we got a name
and no small commendation.
God’s Laws express that righteousness
is that which he doth prize;
And to obey, as he doth say,
is more than sacrifice.
XCV. [81]
“Thus to obey hath been our way;
let our good deeds, we pray.
Find some regard and some reward
with thee, Lord, this day.
And whereas we transgressors be,
of Adam’s race were none,
No, not the best, but have confess’d
themselves to have misdone.“
_Are taken off and rendered invalid._
XCVI. [82]
Then answeréd unto their dread,
the Judge: “True Piety
God doth desire and eke require,
no less than honesty.
Justice demands at all your hands
perfect Obedience;
If but in part you have come short,
that is a just offense.
XCVII.
“On Earth below, where men did owe
a thousand pounds and more.
Could twenty pence it recompense?
Could that have clear’d the score?
Think you to buy Felicity
with part of what’s due debt?
Or for desert of one small part,
the whole should off be set?
XCVIII. [83]
“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 hath been
Before men’s eyes, yet God espies
iniquity therein.
XCIX. [84]
“God looks upon th’ affecti-on
and temper of the heart;
Not only on the acti-on,
and the external part.
Whatever end vain men pretend,
God knows the verity,
And by the end which they intend
their words and deeds doth try.
C. [85]
“Without true Faith, the Scripture saith,
God cannot take delight
In any deed that doth proceed [86]
from any sinful wight.
And without love all actions prove
but barren empty things;
Dead works they be and vanity,
the which vexation brings.
CI.
“Nor from true Faitli, 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 scale Heav’n’s lofty Wall
by Ladders of your own.
CII. [87]
“Your blinded spirit hoping to merit
by your own Righteousness,
Needed no Savior but your behavior,
and blameless carriages.
You trusted to what you could do,
and in no need you stood;
Your haughty pride laid me aside.
And trampled on my Blood.
CIII. [88]
“All men have gone astray, and done
that which God’s laws condemn;
Purchase and offer’d 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. [89]
“Again you thought and mainly sought
a name with men t’ acquire;
Pride bare the Bell that made you swell,
and your own selves admire.
Mean fruit it is, and vile, I wiss,
that springs from such a root;
Virtue divine and genuine
wonts not from pride to shoot.
CV. [90]
“Such deeds as your are worse than poor;
they are but sins gilt over
With silver dross, whose glist’ring gloss
can them no longer cover.
The best of them would you condemn,
and ruin you alone.
Although you were from faults so clear,
that other you had none.
CVI. [91]
“Your gold is brass, your silver dross,
your righteousness is sin;
And think you by such honesty
Eternal life to win?
You much mistake, if for its sake
you dream of acceptation;
Whereas the same deserveth shame
and meriteth damnation.“
_Those that pretend want of opportunity to repent._
CVII. [92]
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 itr, 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, Lord, by thee,
and in good part be taken.“
_Are confuted and convicted._
CIX. [93]
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. [94]
“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. [95]
“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. [96]
“In younger years, beyond your fears,
what if you were surprized?
You put away the evil day,
and of long life devised.
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. [97]
“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.“
_Some plead examples of their betters._
CXIV. [98]
Then were brought in and charg’d with sin,
another Company,
Who by Petition obtain’d permission
to make Apology.
They argued, “We were misled,
as is well known to thee.
By their example that had more ample
abilities than we;
CXV. [99]
“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.“
_Who are told that examples are no Rules._
CXVI. [100]
Who are told 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. [101]
“This you well knew: that God is true,
and that most men are liars,
In word professing holiness,
in deed thereof deniers.
simple fools! that having Rules,
your lives to regulate.
Would them refuse, and rather choose
vile men to imitate.“
_They urge that they were led by godly men’s Examples. But all their shifts turn to their greater shame._
CXVIII.
“But, Lord,” say they, “we went astray,
and did more wickedly,
By means of those whom thou has 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. [102]
“You understood that what was good,
was to be followed.
And that you ought that which was naught
to have relinquished.
Contrariwise it was your guise
only to imitate
Good men’s defects, and their neglects
who were regenerate.
CXX. [103]
“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.“
_Some plead the Scripture’s darkness, and difference among Interpreters._
CXXI. [104]
“We had thy Word,” say some, “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?“
_They are confuted._
CXXII. [105]
“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. [106]
“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 seemed good to you,
You would have sought light as you ought,
and done the good you knew.“
_Others the fear of persecution._
CXXIV. [107]
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. [108]
“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.“
_They are answered._
CXXVI. [109]
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 spurned at my favor.
CXXVIII. [110]
“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 to expose
unto Perditi-on.
CXXIX. [111]
“Who did not hate friends, life, and state,
with all things else for me,
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.“
_Others plead for pardon from God’s Mercy and Justice._
CXXX. [112]
Others plead 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. [113]
“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.
_They are answered._
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,
_Mercy now shines forth in the vessels of Mercy._
CXXXV. [114]
“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.
_Did also wait upon such as abused it._
CXXXVI. [115]
“And none but lie 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, stiff-neck’d race,
did patience you afford?
How oft did love you gently move,
to turn unto the Lord ?
_The day of Grace now past_
CXXXVII. [116]
“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. [117]
“If into wrath God turned hath
his long, long-suffering,
And now for love you vengeance prove,
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. [118]
“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 liand most strict
mischief upon the wronger.
CXL. [119]
“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. [120]
“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. [121]
“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. [122]
“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.“
_Some pretend they were shut out of Heaven by God’s Decree._
CXLIV. [123]
Some pretend 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. [124]
“Whom God ordains to endless pains
by Law unalterable,
Repentance true, Obedience new,
to 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 bad been lost.“
_Their pleas taken off._
CXLVII. [125]
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. [126]
“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. [127]
“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. [128]
“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. [129]
“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. [130]
“’Twas no vain task to knock and 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. [131]
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.
“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 proflfer’d,
No changed heart, no heav’nly part
would you, when it was offer’ d.
CLV. [132]
“Who willfully the remedy,
and means of life contemned.
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;
_Heathen men plead want of the Written Word._
CLVII.
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
we never did enjoy;
We ne’er refus’d, nor it abus’d;
Oh, do not us destroy!“
CLVIII. [133]
“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.“
_Insufficiency of the light of Nature._
CLIX.
“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 Fa’l;
How we were born and lay forlorn
in bondage and in thrall.
CLX. [134]
“We did not know a Christ till now,
nor how fall’n men be saved,
Else would we not, right well we wot,
have so ourselves behaved.
“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.
_They are answered._
CLXI.
“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. [135]
“How came your mind to be so blind?
I once you knowledge gave.
Clearness of sight and judgment light:
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. [136]
“Yourselves into a pit of woe,
your own transgression led;
If I to none my Grace had shown
who had been injured?
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. [137]
“’Tis vain to tell, you wot fall well,
if you in time liad 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 owned your Creator.
CLXV. [138]
“He that the Light, because ’tis slight,
hath uséd to despise,
Would not the Light shining more bright,
be likely for a 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.“