DAY OF DOOM OR A DESCRIPTION Of the Great and Last Judgement WITH A SHORT DISCOURSE ABOUT ETERNITY Eccles. 12. 14. For God shall bring every work into judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil LONDON Printed by I. G. for P. C. 166● A unto Christ the judge of the World O Dearest dread most glorious King I 'll of thy justice judgement sing Do thou my head and heart inspire To do 't aright as I desire Thee thou alone I 'll invocate For I do much abominate To call the Muses to mine aid Which is the unchristian use and trade Of some that Christians would be thought And yet they Worship worse than naught● Oh what a deal of Blasphemy And Heathenish Impiety In Christian Poets may be found Where Heathen Gods with Praise are cr●wn● They make JEHOVAH to stand by Till Juno Venus Mercury With frowning M●rs and thundering Jo●e ● Rule Earth below and Heaven above But I have learned to pray to none Save unto God in Christ alone Nor will I laud no not in jest That which I know God doth detest I reckon it a damning evil To give God's Praises to the Devil Thou Christ art he to whom I pray Thy glory fain I would display Oh guide me by the sacred Spirit So to indite and so to write That I thine holy Name may praise And teach th● sons of men thy ways THE DAY OF ●●OM I. STill was the night serene and bright when all men sleeping lay Calm was the season & car●●l reason thought so 't would last ●or ay Soul take thine ease let sorrow cease much good thou hast in store This was their song their cups among the evening before II. Wallowing in all kind of sin vile wretches lay secure The best of men had scarcely then their Lamps kept in good ure Virgin's unwise who through disguise amongst the best were numbered Had closed their eyes yea and the Wise through sloth and frailty slumbered III. Like as of old when men grew bold God's threatenings to contemn Who stopped their ear and would not hear when mercy warned them But took their course without remorse till God began to pour Destruction the world upon in a tempestuous show●● IU. They put away the evil day and drowned their cares and fears Till drowned were they and swept away by vengeance unawares So at the last whilst men sleep fast in their security Surprised they are in such a snare as cometh suddenly V. For at midnight broke forth a light which turned the night to day And speedily an hideous cry did all the world dismay Sinners awake their hearts do ache trembling their loins surpriseth Amazed with fear by what they hear each one of them ariseth VI They rush from beds with giddy heads and to their windows run Viewing this Light which shines more bright than doth the noonday Sun Straightway appears they see 't with ●ears the Son of God most dread Who with his train comes on amain to judge both Quick and Dead VII Before his face the Heavens give place and Skies are rend asunder With mighty voice and hideous noise more terrible than Thunder His brightness damps heavens glorious l●mps and makes them hide their heads As if afraid and quite dismayed they quit their wont steads VIII Ye sons of men that durst contemn the threatenings of God's word How cheer you now your hearts I trow are thrilled as with a sword Now Atheist blind whose brutish min● a God could never see Dost thou perceive dost now believe that Christ thy Judge shall be● IX Stout courages whose hardiness could death and hell outface Are you as bold now you behold your Judge draw near apace They cry No no alas and wo● our courage all is gone Our hardiness ●ool-hardiness hath us undone undone X. No heart so b●ld but now grows cold and almost dead with fear No eye so dry but now can cry and pour out many a tear Earth's Potentate's and powerful States Captains and men of Might Are qui●e abashed their courage dashed At this most dreadful sight XI Mean men lament great men do r●nt their robes and tear their hair They do not spare their flesh to tear through horrible despair All kindreds wail their hearts do fail horror the world doth fill Wi●● weeping eyes and loud out-cries yet knows not how to kill XII Some hide themselves in Caves and Delves and places under ground Some rashly leap into the deep to scape by being drowned Some to the Rocks O senseless blocks and woody Mountains run T●a● there they might this fearful ●ight and dreaded Presence shun XIII In v●in do they to Mountains say Fall on us and us hide From Judge's i●e more hot than fire For who may it abide No hiding place can from his face sinners at all conceal Whose flaming eye hid things doth spy and darkest things reveal XIV The Judge draws nigh exalted high upon a lofty Throne Amids the throng of Angels strong LIKE Israel's ●oly One The excellence of whose Presence and awful Majesty Am●zeth Nature and every Creature doth more than terrify XV. The Mountains smo●k the Hills are shaken the Earth is rend and torn As if she should be clean dissolved or from her Cen●re born The Sea doth roar forsakes the sho●e and shrinks away for fear The wild beasts flee into the Sea so soon as he draws nea● XVI Whose glory bright whose wondrous might whose Power Imperial So far surpass what ever was in Realms Terrestrial That tongues of men nor Angel's pen cannot the same express And therefore I must pass it by lest speaking should transgress XVII Before his throne a Trump is blown proclaiming th' day of Doom Forthwith he cries Ye dead arise and unto judgement come No sooner said but 't is obeyed Sepulchres opened are Dead bodies all ●ise at his call and 's mighty power declare XVIII Both s●a and land at his command their dead at once surrender The fire and air constrained are also ●heir de●d to ●ender The mighty wo●d of ●his great Lord links body and soul together Both of the just and the unjust to part no more for ever X●X The same translates from mortal states ●o immortality All that survive and be alive i' th' twinkling of an eye That so they may abide for ay to endless weal or woe Both the Renate and Reprobate are made to die no moe XX. His winged Hosts fly through all Coasts together gathering Both good and bad both quick and dead and all to Judgement bring Out of their holes these creeping Moles that hid themselves for fear By force they take and quickly make before the Judge appear XXI Thus every one before the Throne of Christ the Judge is brought Both righteous and impious that good or ill had wrought A separation and differing station by Christ appointed is To sinners sad '●wixt good and bad '●wixt Heirs of woe and bliss XXII At Christ's right hand the sheep do st●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 offence to Christ their Judge appealed XXIII Next unto whom there find a room all Christ's afflicted one● Who being chastised neither despised nor sank amidsts their groans Who by the Rod were turned to God and loved him the more N●● murmuring nor quarrellings when they were chastened sore XXIV Moreover such as loved much that had not such a trial As might constrain to so great pain and such deep self-denial Yet ready were the Cross to bear when Christ them called thereto And did rejoice to hear his voice they 're 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 died Whom ●or his own by ways unknown to men he sanctified XXVI All stand before their Saviour in long white Robes ●clad Their countenance ●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 Christ's left hand the Goats do stand all whining Hypocrites Who for self-ends did seem Christ's friends but fost'red guileful spirits 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 Apostatas 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 reserved to pain and torments most severe Because against light they sinned with spite are also placed there XXIX There also stand a numerous band that no profession made Of Godliness nor to redress their ways at all assayed Who better knew but sinful Crew● 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 God's Law transgress Idolaters false Worshippers Prophaners of God's 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 contemned his Rod and loved security Sabbath-polluters Saints Persecuters Presumptuous men and Proud Who never loved those that reproved all stand amongst this crowd XXXII Adulterers and Whoremongers were there with all unchaste There Covetous and Ravenous that Riches got too fast Who used vile ways themselves to raise the Estates and worldly wealth Oppression by or Knavery by Force or Fraud or Stealth XXXIII Moreover there together were Children flagitious And Parents who did them undo by nature vicious False-witness-bearers and self-forswearers Murderers and men of blood Witch's Enchanters and Alehouse-haunters beyond account there stood XXXIV Their place there find all Heathen blind that Nature's light abused Although they had no tidings glad of Gospel-grace refused There stand all Nations and Generations of Adam's Progeny Whom Christ redeemed not who Christ esteemed not through infidelity XXXV Who no Peacemaker no Undertaker to shroud them from God's ire Ever obtained they must be pained with everlasting fire These numerous bands wring 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 're held in place before Christ's face till he their Doom shall tell These void of tears but filled 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 Judge's Throne With mild aspect to his Elect then spoke 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 cheerfully 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 enure myself 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 Father's ire I underwent my blood I spent to save them from Hell fire XLII Thus I esteemed thus I redeemed all these from every Nation that they might be as now you see a chosen Generation What if erewhile they were as vile and bad as any be ●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 choose or else refuse all men to save or spill May this man choose and that refuse redeeming whom he will XLIV But as for those whom I have chose Salvations heirs to be I underwent their punishment and therefore set them free I bore their grief and their relief by suffering procured That they of bliss and happiness ●ight firmly be assured XLV And this my g●ace they did embrace believing on my name Which Faith was true the fruits do show proceeding from the same Their Penitence their Patience their Love their Self-den●al In suffering losses and bearing crosses when put upon the trial XLVI Their sin forsaking their cheerful taking my yoke their chari●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 Heir● 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 ●elicitee Henceforth no fears no care no tears no sin shall you annoy Nor any thing that grief doth bring eternal rest enjoy XLIX You bore the Cross you suffered loss of all ●or my Names sake Receive the Crown that 's now your own come and a kingdom take Thus spoke the Judge the wicked grudge and grind their teeth in vain They see with groans these placed on throne● which addeth to their pain L. That those whom they did wrong and slay must now their judgement see Such whom they slighted and once de●spighte● must of their Judges be Thus 't is decreed such is their meed and guerdon glorious With Christ they sit judging it fit to plague the impious LI. The wicked are brought to the Bar like guilty malefactors That oftentimes of bloody crimes and treasons have been actors Of wicked men none are so mean as there to be neglected Nor none so high in dignity as there to be respected LII The glorious Judge will privilege nor Emperor nor King But every one that hath misdone doth into judgement bring And every one that hath misdone the Judge impartially Condemneth to eternal woe and endless misery LIII Thus one and all thus great and small the rich as well as poor And those of place as the most base do stand their Judge before They are arraigned and there detained before Christ's judgement seat With trembling fear their Doom to hear and feel his anger's heat LIV. There Christ demands at all their hands a strict and strait account Of all things done under the Sun who●e numbers far surmount Man's wit and thought yet all are brought unto this solemn trial And each offence with evidence so that there 's no denial LV. There 's no excuses for their abuse●● since their own consciences More proof give in of each man's sin then thousand witnesses Though formerly this faculty had grossly been abused Men could it stifle or with it trifle whenas it them accused LVI Now it comes in and every si● unto man's charge doth lay It judgeth them and doth condemn though all the world say nay It so stingeth and tortureth it worketh such distress That each man's self against himself is forced to confess LVII It 's vain moreover for men to cover the least iniquity The Judge hath seen and privy been to all their villainy He unto light and open sight the works of darkness b●ings He doth unfold both new and old both known and hidden things LVIII All filthy facts and secret acts however closely done And long concealed are there revealed before the midday Sun Deeds of the night shunning the light which darkest corners sought To fearful blame and endless shame are there most justly brought LIX And as all facts and grosser acts so every word and thought Erroneous notion and lustful motion are into judgement brought No sin so small and trivial but hi●her it must come ●or so long passed but now at last it must receive a doom LX. ●t this sad season Christ asks a reason with just austerity Of Grace refused of Light abused so oft so wilfully O● Talents lent by them-mispent and on their lusts bestown Which if improved as it behooved Heaven might have been their own LXI Of time neglected of means rejected of God's long-suffering And patience to penitence that sought hard hearts to bring Why cords of love did nothing move to shame or to remorse Why warnings grave and counsels have nought changed their sinful course LXII Why chastenings and evil ●hings why judgements so severe Prevailed not with them a jo● nor wrought an awful fear Why promises of holiness and new obedience ●hey oft did make but always break the ●ame to God's offence LXIII Why still Hellward without regard the boldly ventured And chose Damnation before Salvation when it was offered Why sinful pleasures and earthly treasures like fools they prized more Than heavenly wealth eternal health and all Christ's Royal store LXIV Why when he stood offering his Blood to wash them from their sin They would embrace no saving Grace but lived and died therein Such aggravations where no evasions nor false pretences hold Exaggerate and cumulate guilt more than can be told LXV They multiply and magnify men's gross iniquities They draw down wrath as Scripture saith out of God's treasuries● Thu● all their ways Christ open lays to Men and Angels view And as they were makes them appear in their own proper hue LXVI Thus he doth find of all mankind that stand at his left hand No mother's son but hath misdone and broken God's command All have transgressed even the best and merited God's wrath ●nto their own perdition and everlasting scathe LXVII Earth's dwellers all both great and small have wrought iniquity And suffer must for it is just eternal misery Amongst the many there come not any before the Judge's face That able are themselves to clear of all this curled race LXVIII Nevertheless they all express Christ granting liberty What for their way they have to say how they have lived and why They all draw near and seek to clear themselves by making pleas There hypocrites falsehearted wights do make such pleas as these LXIX Lord in thy Name and by the same we Devils dispossessed We raised the dead and ministered succour to the distressed Our painful preaching and powerful teaching by thine own wondrous might Did throughly win from God to sin many a wretched wight LXX All this quoth he may granted be● and your case little bettered Who still remain under a chain and many irons fettered You that the dead have quickened and rescued from the grave Yourselves were dead yet never n a Christ your Souls to save LXXI You that could preach and others teach wh●t way to life doth lead Why were you slack to find that tract and in that way to tread How could you bear to see or hear of others freed at last From Satan's Paws whilst in his jaws yourselves were held more fa●t LXXII Who though you kne● Repentance true and faith in my great Name The only mean to quit you clean from punishment and blame Yet took no pain true faith to gain such as might not deceive Nor would repent wi●h true intent ●our evil deeds to leave LXXIII ●is Masters will how to fulfil ●he servant that well knew ●et left undone his duty known more plagues to him are due ●ou against Light perverted Right ●herefore it shall be now ●or Sidon and for Sodom's Land ●ore easy then for you LXXIV ●ut we have in thy presence been say some and eaten there ●id we not eat thy flesh for meat and feed on heavenly cheer Whereon who feed shall never need as thou thyself dost say ●or shall they die eternally but live with thee for ay LXXV We may allege thou gav'st a pledge of thy dea● love to us Wine and B●e●d ●hich figured ●hy grace bestowed thus Of strengthening seals of sweetest meals have we so oft partaken ●nd shall we be cast off by thee and utterly forsaken LXXVI whom the Lord thu● in a word returns a short reply I never known any of you that wrought iniquity You say ye have been my Presence in bu● friend's how came you there Wi●h Raiment vile that did defile and quite disgrace my cheer LXXVII Durst you draw near without due fear unto my holy Table Dared you profane 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 dared you venture bold guests to enter in such a sordid hi●e Amongst my guests unto those feasts that were not made for you How durst you eat for spiritual meat your bane and drink damnation Whilst by your guile you rendered vile so rare and great salvation LXXIX Your fancies fed on heavenly bread your hearts fed on some lust You loved the Creature more than th'Creator your souls clavae to the dust And think you by hypocrisy and cloaked wickedness To enter in laden with sin to lasting happiness LXXX This your excuse shows your abuse of things ordained for good And do 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 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 prayed and wept we Fast-days kept lewd ways we did eschew We joyful were thy Word to h●ar we fo●m'd our lives anew LXXXIII We thought our sin had pardoned bi● that our estate was good Our debts all paid ●ur peace well made our Soul's wash● wi●h ●hy Broud Lord why dost thou reject us now who have not thee rejected Nor utterly true sanctity and holy li●e neglected LXXXIV The Judge incensed at their pretenced self-vaunting piety With such a look as trembling struck into them made reply O impudent impenitent and guileful generation Think you that I cannot descry your heart's abomination LXXXV You not received nor yet believ●d my promises of grace Nor were you wise enough to prise my reconciled face But did presume that to assume which was not yours to take And challenged the children's bread yet would not sin forsake LXXXVI B●ing too bold you laid fast hold where interest you had none Yourselves deceiving by your believing all which you might have known You ●an away but run astray with Gospel promises And perished being still dead in sins and trespasse● LXXXVII How oft did I hypocrisy and hearts deceits unmask Before your sight giving you light 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 re●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 prayed and wept you Fast-days kept but did you this to me No but for ●●n you sought to win the greater liberte● For all your vaunts you had vile haunts for which your consciences Did you alarm whose voice to charm you used these practices XC Your penitence your diligence to read to pray to hear Were but to drown the clamorous sound of conscience in your ea●● If light you loved vainglory moved yourselves therewith to store Th●t seeming wise men might you prise and honour you the more XCI Thus from yourselves unto yourselves your duties all do tend And as self-love the wheels do move so in self-love they end Thus Ch●ist detects their vain projects and close impiety And plainly shows that all their shows were but hypocrisy XCII Then were brought nigh a company of ●ivil honest men That loved true dealing and hated stealing ●e wronged their brethren Who pleaded thus Thou knowest us that we were blameless 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 wasteful spenders No lewd toss-pots no drunken sots no scandalous offenders XCIV 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 Thus to obey hath been our way let our good deeds we pray Find some regard and good rewa●d with thee O Lord this day And whereas we transgressors be of Adam's Race were n●ne No not the best but have confes●●● themselves to h●ve misdone XCVI Then answered un●o their dread the Judge True piety God doth desire and eke requi●e no less than honesty Justice demands at all your hands perfect Obedience If but in part you have come sh●●● that is a just offence XCVII On earth below where men did owe a thousand pounds and more Could twenty pence it recompense could that have cleared the score Think you to buy felicity with part of what 's due debt O● 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 h●th been Before men's eyes yet God espies iniquity therein XCIX God looks upon th'●ff●ction and temper of the heart Not only on the action and the external part Whatever end vain men pretend God knows the v●ri●y● And by the end which they intent 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 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 faith which quencheth wrath hath your obedience flown Nor from true love which want to move believers hath it grown Your argument shows your intent in all that you have done You thought to ●cale heavens lofty wall by ladder's o● your own CII Your blinded spirit hoping to merit by your own righteousness Needed no Saviour but your behaviour and blameless ca●riages● 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 All men have gone astray and done that which God's Law● 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 bore the B●ll that made you swell and your own selves admire M●an frui● it is and vile I wis that spring's from such a root Virtue divine and genuine wants not from pride to shoor CV Such deeds as you are worse than poo● they are but sins gilded over With silver dross whose glistering gloss ●an them no longer cover The best of them would you condemn and ●uine you alone Although you were from faults so clear that other you had none CVI Your gold is dross you● silver brass 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 CVII A wondrous Crowd than began aloud thus for themselves to say We did intend Lord to mend and to reform our way Ou● 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 his prime our youthful flower was cropped We died in youth before full growth so was our purpose stopped 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 To whom the Judge Where you allege the shortness of the space That from your birth you lived on earth to compass Saving Grace It was freegrace that any space wa● given you at all To turn from evil defy the Devil and upon God to call CX One day one week wherein to seek God's 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 precious 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 lose 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 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 H●d your intent been to Repent and had you it desired There would have been endeavours seen before your time expired God makes no treasure nor hath he pleasure in idle purposes Such fair pretences are foul offences and cloaks for wickedness CXIV Then were brought in and charged with sin another Company Who by Petition obtained 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 Such as professed we 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 seemed to us we might take liberty CXVI The Judge Replies I gave you eyes a●d light to see your way Which had you loved and well improved 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 deniers● O simple ●ools that having Rules your lives to Regulate Would them refuse and rather choose vile men to imitate CXVIII But Lord say they we we●● astray and did more wickedly By means of those whom thou hast chose Salvations 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 ba●e CXIX You understood that what was good was to be ●ollowed And that you ought that which was nought to have relinquished chose it was your guise only to imitate Good men's defects and their neglects that were Regenerate CXX But to express their holiness or imitate their Grace Yet little ca●'d not once prepared your hearts to seek my face They did Repent and truly Rend 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 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 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 cared to know nor studied And things that were most plain and clear you never practised CXXIII The Mystery of Piety God unto Babes reveals When to the wise he it denies and from the world conceals If ●o fulfil Gods holy will had seemed good to you You would have sought light as you ought and done the good y●u knew CXX●V Then came in view another Crew and began to make their pleas Amongst the rest some of the best had such poor shifts as these Thou knowst right well who all canst tell we lived 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 thei● 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 awe of God's strict Law and fear men's wrath and threats To fear Hell-fire and Gods fierce ire less than the rage of men As if God's wrath could do less scathe than wrath of brethren CXXVII To use such strife to temporal life to rescue and secure And be so blind as not to mind that life that will endure This was you● case who carnal peace more than ●●ue joys did savour Who fed on dus● clavae to your lust and spurned at my ●avour CXXVIII To please your kin men's loves 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 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 believed are we deceived 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 O● hear their groans or rueful moans and still his wrath retain Can it agree with equity can Mercy have the heart To Recompense few years offence with Everlasting smart CXXXII Can God delight in such a sight as sinner's Misery Or what great good can this our blood bring unto the most High Oh thou that dost thy Glory most in pardoning sin display Lord might it please thee to release and pardon us this day CXXXIII Unto thy Name more glorious fame would not such Mercy bring Would it not raise thine endless praise more than our suffering With that they cease holding their peace but cease not still to weep Grief ministers a flood to tears in which their words do steep CXXXIV But all too late Grief 's out of date when Life is at an end The glorious King thus answering all to his voice attend God gracious is quoth he like his no Mercy can be found His Equity and Clemency to sinners do abound CXXXV As may appear by those that here are placed at my right hand Whose stripes I bore and cleared the score that they might quitted stand For surely none but God alone whose Grace transcends man's thought For such as those that were his foes like wonders would have wrought CXXXVI And none but he such lenitee and patience would have shown To you so long who did him wrong and pulled his judgements down How long a space O stiffnecked Race did patience you afford How oft did love you gently move to turn unto the Lord CXXXVII With cords of Love God often strove your stubborn hearts to tame Nevertheless your wickedness did still resist the same If now at last Mercy be passed from you for evermore And Justice come in Mercies room yet grudge you no● therefore CXXXVIII If into wrath God tu●●ed hath his Long-long ●uffe●ing And now for Love you Vengeance prove it is an equal thing Your waxing worse hath stopped the course of wont Clemency Mercy refused and Grace misused call for severity CXXX●X It 's now high time that every Crime be brought to punishment Wrath long contained and oft refrained at last must have a vent Justice ●evere cannot forbear to plague sin any longer But must inflict with hand mo●t strict mischief upon the wronger CXL In vain do they for Mercy pray the season being past Who had no care to get a share therein while time did last The men whose ear refused to hear the voice of Wisdom's cry Earned this reward that none regard him in his misery CXLI It doth agree with equity and with God's holy Law That those should die eternally that death upon them draw The Soul that sin's damnation wins for so the Law ordains Which Law is just● and therefore must such suffer endless pains CXLII Eternal smart is the desert even of the least offence 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 lived therein who well the danger knew CXLIII 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 Then at the Bar arraigned are an impudenter sort Who to evade the guilt that 's laid upon them thus retort How could we cease thus to transgress how could we Hell avoid Whom God's Decree shut out from thee and signed to be destroyed CXLV Whom God ordains to endless pains by Laws unalterable Repentance true Obedience new to save such are unable Sorrow for sin no good can win to such as are rejected Ne can they give not yet believe that never were elected CXLVI Of man's fallen 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 Gods love to gain our busy pain and labour had been lost CXLVII Christ readily makes this reply I damn you not because You are rejected or not elected but you have broke my Laws It is but vain your wits to strain the E●d and Meanss to sever Men fond seek to dart or break what God hath linked together CXLVIII Whom God will save such he will have the means of life to use Whom he 'll pass by shall choose to di● and ways of life refuse He that foresee and fore-decrees in wisdom ordered has That man's freewill electing ill shall bring his Will to pass CXLIX High God's Decree as it is free so doth it none compel Against their will to good or ill i● forceth none to Hell They have their wish whose Souls perish with torments in Hell-fire Who rather chose their souls to lose then leave a loose desire CL. God did ordain sinners to pain and I to hell send none But such as swerved and have deserved destruction as their own His pleasure is that none fr 〈…〉 ss and endless happiness Be barred but such as wrong much by wilful wickedness CLI 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 knocked yet say God locked against you heavens door CLII 'T was no vain task to knock to ask whilst life continued Who ever sought Heaven as he ought and seeking perished The lowly-meek who truly seek for Christ and for salvation There 's no Decree whereby such be ordained to condemnation CLIII You argue then But abject men whom God resolves to spill Cannot repent nor their hearts rend ne can they change their will Not for his Can is any man adjudged unto hell But for his Will ● to do what 's ill and nilling to do well CLIU I often stood tendering my Blood to wash away your guilt And eke my Spirit to frame you right lest your souls should be spilt But you vile race rejected Grace when Grace was freely proffered No changed heart no heavenly part would you when it was offered CLV Who wilfully the remedy of Grace and Life contemned 'Cause have the same themselves to blame if now they be condemned You have yourselves you and none else yourselves have done to die You chose the way to your decay and perished wilfully CLVI These words apale and daunt them all dismayed and all amort Like stocks they 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 Whose wicked ways Christ open lays and makes their sins appear They making pleas the case to ease if not themselves to clear Thy written word say they good Lord we never did enjoy We not refused nor it abused Oh do not us destroy CLVIII You ne'er abused nor yet refused my written Word you plead That 's true quoth he therefore shall ye the less be punished You shall not smart for any part of other men's offence But for your own transgression receive due recompense CLIX But we were blind say ●hey in mind too dim was nature's light Our only guide as hath been try●d to bring us to the sight Of our estate degenerate and cursed by Adam's fall How we were born and lay forlorn in bondage and in th●all CLX We did not know a Christ till now nor bow fal● man he saved Else should we not right well we wo● have so ourselves behaved We should have mourned we should have turned from sin at thy reproof And been more wise through thine advice for our own Souls behoof CLXI But nature's light shined not so bright to teach us the right way We might have loved it & well improved 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'n-ward to bend CLXII How came your mind to be so blind I once you knowledge gave Clearness of sight and judgement right who did the same deprave If to your cost you have it lost and quite defaced the same Your own desert hath caused your smart you ought not me to blame CLXIII Yourselves into a pit of woe your own transgressions led If I to none my grace had shown who had been injured If to a few and not to you I showed a way of life My Grace so free you clearly see gives you no ground of strife CLXIV 'T is ●ain 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 No● done the good you understood nor owned your Creator CLXV He that the Light because 't is Light hath used to despize Would not the Light shining more bright be likely for to prise If you had loved and well improved your knowledge and dim sight Herein your pain had not been vain your plagues had been more light CLXVI Then to the Bar all they drew near who died in infancy And never had or good or bad effected personally But from the womb unto the tomb were straightway carried Or at the least ere they transgressed who thus began to plead CLXVII If for our own transgression or disobedience We here did stand at thy left hand j●st were the recompense But Adam's guilt our souls hath spilt his fault is charged upon us And that alone hath overthrown and utterly undone us CLXVIII Not we but he a●e of the Tree whose fruit was interdicted Yet on us all of his sad fall the punishment's inflicted How could we sin who had not been or how is his sin our Without consent which to prevent we never had a power CLXIX O great Creator why was our nature depraved and forlorn Why so defiled and made so vild Whilst we were yet unborn If it be just and needs we must transgressors reckoned be Thy mercy Lord to us afford which sinners hath set free CLXX Behold we see Adam ●et free and saved 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 that was the chief offender CLXXI Then answered the Judge most dread God doth such doom forbid T●at 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 He was designed 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 than all his brood had been established In God's true love never to move nor once awry to tread Then all his Race my Father's Grace should have enjoyed for ever And wicked Sprights by subtle sleights could them have harmed never CLXXIV Would you have grieved to have received through Adam so much good As had been your for evermore if he at first had stood Would you have said We ne'er obeyed nor did thy Laws regard It ill befits with benefits us Lord so to reward CLXXV 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 depraved Death was your due because that you had thus yourselves behaved CLXXVI 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 selfsame woe yourselves and yours have brought CLXXVII I may deny you once to try or Grace to you to tender Though he finds grace be●ore my face who was the chief offender Else should my Grace cease to be Grace for it should not be free If to release whom I shall please I have not liberty CLXXVIII I● upon one what 's due to none I frankly shall bestow And on the rest shall not think best compassions 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 Am I alone of what 's my own no Master or ●o Lord Or if I am how can you claim w●at I to some afford Will you demand G●ace at my hand and challenge what is mine Will you teach me whom to set free and thus my Grace confine CLXXX 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 lived a longer time I do confess yours is much less though every sin 's a crime CLXXXI A crime it is therefore in bliss you may not hope to dwell But unto you I shall allow the easiest room in hell The glorious King thus answering they cease and plead no longer Their consciences must needs confess his Reasons are the stronger CLXXXII Thus all men's pleas the Judge with ease doth answer and confute Until that all both great and small are silenced and mute Vain hopes are cropped all mouths are stopped sinners have nought to say But that 't is just and equal most they should be damned for ay CLXXXIII Now what remains but that to pains and everlasting smart Christ should condemn the sons of men which is their just desert Oh rueful plights of sinful wights Oh wretches all forlorn That happy been they ne'er had seen the Sun or not been born CLXXXIV Yea now it would be good they could● themselves annihilate And cease to be themselves to free from such a fearful state Oh happy Dogs and Swine and Frogs yea Serpent's generation Who do not fear this doom to hear and sentence of Damnation CLXXXV This is their state so desperate their sins are fully known Their vanities and villainies Before the world are shown As they are gross and impious so are their numbers more Than motes i' th' air or then their hair or sands upon the shore CLXXXVI Divine Justice offended is a●d Satisfaction claimeth Gods wrathful ire kindled like fire against them fiercely flameth Their Judge severe doth quite cashier and all their Pleas off take That never a man or dare or can a further Answer make CLXXXVII Their mouths are shut each man i● put to silence and to shame Nor have they ought within their thought Christ's Justice for to blame The Judge is just and plague them must nor will he mercy show For Mercy 's day is passed away to any of this Crew CLXXXVIII The Judge is strong doers of wrong cannot his Power withstand None can by flight run out of sight nor scape out of his hand Sad is their sta●e for Advocate to plead their Cause there 's none None to prevent their punishment or misery to bemole CLXXXIX O dismal day whither shall they for help or succour flee To God above with hopes to move their greatest Enemee His wrath is great whose burning heat to flood of Tears can ●lake His word stands fast that they be cast into the burning Lake CXC To Chr●st their Judge he doth adjudge them to the Pit of Sorrow Nor will he hear or cry or tear nor respite them on morrow To Heaven Alas they cannot pass it is against them shut To enter there O heavy cheer they out of hopes are put CXCI U●to their Treasures or to their Pleasures all these have been forsaken Had they full Coffers to make large offers their Gold would not be taken Unto the place where whilom was their birth and education Lo Christ begins for their great sins to fire the Earth's foundation CXCII And by and by the flaming Sky shall drop like molten Lead About their ears t' increase their fears and aggravate their dread To Angels good that ever stood in their integrity Should they betake themselves and make their suit incessantly CXCIII They neither skill nor do they will to work them any ease They will not mourn to see them burn nor beg for their release To wicked men their brethren in sin and wickedness Should they make moan their case is one they 're in the same distress CXCIV Ah cold comfort and mean support from such like Comforters Ah little joy of Company and fellow-sufferers Such shall increase their heart's disease and add unto their woe Because that they brought to decay themselves and many more CXCU. Unto the Saints with sad complaints should they themselves apply They 're not dejected nor aught affected with all their misery Friends stand aloof and make no proof what Prayers or Tears can do Your godly friends are now more friends to Christ then unto you CXCVI Where tender love men's hearts did move unto a sympathy And bearing part of others smart in their anxiety Now such compassion is out of fashion and wholly laid aside No friend so near but Saints to hear their judgement can abide CXCVII One natural Brother beholds another in this astonished fit Yet sorrows not thereat a jot nor pities him a whit The godly wife conceives no grief nor can she shed a tear For the sad state of her dear Mate when she his doom doth hear CXCVIII He that was erst a Husband pierced with sense of Wife's distress Whose tender heart did bear a part of all her grievances Shall mourn no more as heretofore because of her ill plight Although he see her now to be a damned forsaken wight CXCIX The tender Mother will own no other of all her numerous brood But such as stand at Christ's right hand acquitted through his Blood The pious Father had now much rather his graceless Son should lie In Hell with Devils for all his evils burning eternally CC. Then God most High should injury by sparing him sustain And doth rejoice to hear Christ's voice adjudging him to pain Who having all both great and small convinced and silenced Did then proceed their Doom to read and thus it uttered CCI Ye sinful wights and cursed sprights that work Iniquity Depart together from me for ever to endless Misery Your portion take in that sad Lake where Fire and Brimstone flameth Suffer the smart which your desert as its du● wages claimeth CCII Oh piercing words more sharp than Swords what to depart from Thee Whose face before for evermore the best of Pleasures be What! to depart unto our smart from thee Eternally To be for ay banished away with Devil's company CCIII What! to be sent to Punishment and flames of Burning Fire To be surrounded and eke confounded with God's Revengeful Ire What! to abide not for a tide these Torments but for Ever To be released or to be eased not after years but Never CCIU Oh fearful Doom now there 's no room for hope or help at all Sentence is past which aye shall last Christ will not it recall There might you hear them rend and tear the Air with their outcries The hideous noise of their sad voice ascendeth to the skies CCV They wring their hands their caitiff-hands and gnash their teeth for terror They cry they roar for anguish sore and gnaw their tongues for horror But get away without delay Christ pities not your cry Depart to Hell● there may you yell and roar Eternally CCVI That word Depart maugre their heart drives every wicked one With mighty power the selfsame hour far from the Judge's throne Away they 're cast by the strong blast of his Death-threatning mouth They ●lee full fast as if in haste although they be full loath CCVII As chaff that 's dry and dust doth fly before the Northern wind Right so are they chased away and can no Refuge find They hasten to the Pit of woe guarded by Angels stout Who to fulfil Christ's holy will attend this wicked Rout. CCVIII Whom having brought as they are taught unto the brink of Hell That dismal place far from Christ's face where Death and Darkness dwell Where God's fierce ire kindleth the fire and Vengeance feeds the flame With piles of wood and brimstone flood that none can quench the same CCIX With Iron bands they bind their hands and cursed feet together And cast them all both great and small into that Lake for ever Where day and night without respite they wail and cry and howl For tor'●ring pain which they sustain in Body and in Soul CCX For day and night in their despite their torments smoke ascendeth Their pain and grief have no relief their anguish never endeth There must they lie and never die though dying every day There must they dying ever lie and not consume away CCXI Die fain they would if die they cou● but death will not be had● God's direful wrath their bodies hath for e'er Immortal made They live to lie in misery and bear eternal woe And live they must whilst God is just that he may plague them so CCXII But who can tell the plagues of Hell and torments exquisite Who can relate their dismal state and terrors infinite Who fare the best and feel the least yet feel that Punishment Whereby to nought they should be brought if God did not prevent CCXIII The least degree of misery there felt's incomparable The lightest pain they there sustain more than intolerable But Gods great power from hour to hour upholds them in the fire That they shall not consume a jot nor by its force expire CCXIU But ah the woe they undergo they more than all beside Who had the light and knew the right yet would not it abide The sev'●-fold smart which to their part and portion doth fall Who Christ his Grace would not embrace nor hearken to his call CCXV The Amorites and Sodomites although their plagues be sore Yet find some ease compared to these who feel a great deal more Almighty God whose Iron Rod to smite them never ●ins Doth most declare his Justice rare in plaguing these men's ●ins CCXVI The pain of loss their souls doth toss ●nd wondrously distress To think what they have cast away by wilful wickedness We might have been redeemed from si● think they and lived above Being possessed of heavenly rest and joying in God's love CCXVII But woe woe woe our souls unto we would not happy be And therefore bear God's vengeance here to all eternity Experience and woeful sense must be our painful teachers Who ● ' old believe nor credit give unto our faithful Preachers CCXVIII Thus shall they lie and wail and cry tormented and tormenting Their galled hearts with poisoned darts but now too late repenting There let them dwell i' th' flames of hell there leave we them to burn And back again unto the men whom Christ acquits return CCXIX The Saints behold with courage bold and thankful wonderment To see all those that were their foes thus sent to punishment Then do they sing unto their King a song of endless praise● They praise his Name and do proclaim that just are all his ways CCXX Thus with great joy and melody to Heaven they all ascend Him there to praise with sweetest lays And Hymns that never end Where with long Rest they shall be blessed and nought shall them annoy Where they shall see as seen they be and whom they love enjoy CCXXI O glorious Place where face to face Jehovah may be seen By such as were sinners whilere and no dark vail between Where the Sunshine and Light divine of God's bright Countenance Doth rest upon them every one with sweetest influence CCXXII O blessed state of the Renate O Wondrous Happiness To which they 're brought beyond what thought can reach or words express Grief's watercourse and Sorrow's source are turned to joyful streams Their old distress and heaviness a●e vanished like dreams CCXXIII For God above in arms of love doth dearly them embrace And fills their sprights with such delights and pleasures in his grace As shall not fail nor yet grow stale through frequency of use Nor do they fear God's Favour there to forfeit by abuse CCXXIU For there the Saints are perfect Saints and holy ones indeed From ●ll the sin that dwelled within their mortal bodies freed Made Kings and Priests to God through Christ's dear loves transcendency There to remain and there to reign with him Eternally FINIS I Walked and did a little Molehill view Full peopled with a most industrious crew Of busy Ants where each one laboured more Then if he were to bring home Indian Ore Here wrought the Pioners there marched the Bands Here Colonies went forth to plant new Lands ● These hasted out and those supplies brought in As if they had some sudden Siege foreseen Until there came an angry Spade and cast Country and People to a Pit at last Again I viewed a Kingdom in a Hive Where every one did wo●k and so all thrive Some go some come some war some watch & ward Some make the works & some the works do guard ● These frame their curious Waxen-cells and those Do into them their Nectar drops dispose Until the greedy Gardner brought his smoke And for the work did all the workmen choke Lo here frail Mortals may ●it Emblems see Of their great toil and greater vanity They weary out their b●ain their strength their time While some to Arts and some to Honours climb They s●arch Earth's bowels cross the roaring Seas Mortgage their Souls and forfeit all their Ease Grudge Night her sleep and lengthen out the day To far these B●gs & cram those Chests with clay They rack and charm each Creature to explore Some latent Quintessence not known before Torture and squeeze out all its juice and blood To try if they can now find out that GOOD Which Solomon despaired of but at last On the same shore of Vanity are cast The Spade stops their career of Pride and Lust And calls them from their Clay unto their Dust ● Leave off your Circles Archimede away The King of Terror calls and will not stay Miser kiss all your Bags and then lie down Scholar your Books Monarch yield up your Crown Give way Wealth Honour Arts Thrones ● bac● make room● That these pale Souls may come unto their doom 's Nor show vain men the fruit of all that pain Which i● the ●nd nothing but Loss did gain Compute your Lives and all your Hours up cast● Lo here 's the total sum of All at last I rose up early sat up late to know As much as Men as Tongues as Books could shew● I toiled to search all Science and all Art But died ignorant of mine own Heart I got great Honour and my Fame did stream As far as doth the Morning's shining Beam My Name into a page of Titles swelled My head a Crown my ●and a Sceptre held Ado●'d without but shameful lusts within Adorned with Titles but defiled with sin ● With anxious thoughts with saddest cares a●● I gained these Lordships and this Soul I l●st My greedy Heir now hovers o'er my pelf I purchased Land ●or him Hell for myself Go on you nobler B●ains and fill your sight As full of Learning as the Sun 's of light Expand your Souls to Truth as wide as Day Kuow all that Men know all that Angels say Write shops of Volumes and let every Book Be filled with lustre as was Moses look Yet know all this is but a better kind Of sublime vanity and more refin'd● Except a saving knowledge crown the rest Devils know more and yet shall ●e'r be blessed Go on ambitious Wo●●s yet yet aspire Lay a sure Scene how you may yet rise higher March forward Macedonian Horn add on Gaza to Tyre Indies to Babylon Make stirrups of the people's backs and bones 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 heavenly Crown crown all the rest Devils are Potentates and yet not blessed Go on base dunghil-souls heap gold as mi●● Sweep silver as the dust emulate Tyre Fill every Warehouse purchase every Field Add house to house Pelion on Ossa build ●●t Mida's vote to transubstantiate whatever you please all into golden plate ●uild wider Barns sing requiem to your heart ●eel your wealth's 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 blessed Cease then from vain delights & set your min● T●at solid and enduring GOOD to fi●d Which sweetens life and death which will increase O● an immortal Soul immortal peace Which will replenish and advance you higher Then ere your own Ambition could aspire Fear your great Maker with a childlike awe 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 wi●● Blis● Be kind unto yourselves believe and try If not go on fill up your lusts and die Sing peace unto yourselves 't will once be kno● Whose word shall stand your Judgs or your ow● Crown thee with Rosebuds satiate thine eyes Glut every sense with her own vanities Melt into pleasures until that which Lust D●d not before consume rot into dust The Thrones are set the Books will straight be rea● Hell will her Souls & graves give up their dea● Then there will be and the time is not far Fi●e on the Bench and Stubble at the Bar. O sinners ruminate these thoughts again You have been Beast enough at last be Men. Chris● ●et entreats but if you will not turn Whe●e G●●ce will not convert there Fire will b●●● A SHORT DISCOURSE ABOUT ETERNITY I. WHat mortal man can wi●h h●s span meet out Eternity Or fathom it by depth of wit or strength of memory The lofty sky is not so high hell's depth to this is small The world so wide is but a stride compared herewithal 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 Flood for thousand years well near And had before endured more than sixteen hundred year III. But what 's the time from the world's 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 Floods 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 showrs that bring forth Flowrs and Blossoms plenteously VI. Number the Fowls and living Souls that through the air do fly The winged Hosts in all the Coasts beneath the starry Sky 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 Atoms 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 surmount VIII Nought joined to Nought can ●e'● make aught nor Ciphers make a Sum Nor things Finite to Infinite by multiplying come A Cockleshell may serve as well to lave the Ocean dry As finite things and Reckonings to bond Eternity IX O happy they that live for ay with Christ in Heaven above Who know withal 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 moan Your sufferings and evil things will suddenly be passed 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 ●ill Eternity ●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 extinguished never XIV I 'll answer make and let them take my words as I intent them For this is all the Cordial that here I have to lend them When Heaven shall cease to flow with peace and all felicity Then Hell may cease to be the place of woe and misery XV. When Heaven is Hell when Ill is Well when Virtue turns to Vice When Wrong is Right when D●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 hellfire XVI When Christ above shall cea●e to love when God shall cease to reign And be no more as heretofore the wo●lds great Sovereign Or not be just or favour lust o● in men's ●i●s delight Then wicked men and not till then to Heaven may take their flight XVII When Gods great Power shall be brought lower by foreign Puissance Or be decayed 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 Ch●ists F●iends and Heirs of Heaven height XIX Then Ah poor men what not till then n● not an hour before For God is just and therefore must torment 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 to bear God's Vengeance for EVER The thought of this more bitter is then all they feel beside Yet what they feel nor heart of steel ro● flesh of brass can 'bide XXI To lie in woe 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 intolerable This makes frail wights and damned spirit to bear their Plagues unable This makes men bite for ●ell despite their very tongues in twain This makes them roar for great hor●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 'll 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 G●ds Image made to be partaker Upon the wings of noblest Faculties Taught for to soar above the starry skies And no● to rest until it understood Itself possessed o● the chiefest Good● And since the Fa●l thy ●oul retaineth still The Faculties of Reason and of Will But Oh! how much depraved and out of ●rame As if they were some others not the same Thine Understanding dismally benighted And Reason's eye in spiritual things dim●sighted● Or else stark blind thy Will inclined to evil And nothing else a slave unto the Devil● That loves to live and liveth to transgress But shuns th● 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 wander every day Or that thy own transgressions are more In number than the sands upon the shore Thou art a lump of wickedness become And mayst with horror think upon thy doom Until thy soul be washed in the flood Of Christ's most dear soul-cleansing precious blood That that alone can do away thy sin Which thou wert born and hast long lived in That only that can pacify God's wrath If apprehended by a lively faith Now whilst the day and means of grace doth last Before the opportunity be past● But if O man thou liv'st a Christless creature And death surprise thee in a state of nature As who can tell but that may be thy ●ase How wilt thou stand before thy Judge's face When he shall be revealed in flaming fire● 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 wi●h thee expostulate What cause hadst thou thy Maker for to hate To take up arms against thy Sovereign And enmity against him to maintain What injury hath God Almighty done thee What good hath he withheld that might have wo● thee What evil or injustice hast thou found In him that might unto thy hurt redound If neither felt nor ●eared injury Hath moved thee to such hostility What made thee then the Fountain to forsake And unto broken Pits thyself betake What reason hadst thou to dishonour God Who the● with Mercies never ceased 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 o● God's great pa●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 heavens 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 been But thou vile wretch hast added unto all Thine other faults and facts so criminal The damning sin of wilful Unbelief Of all Transgressor's 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 God's Law Were not enough upon thy head to draw Eternal wrath thou hast despised a Saviour Rejected me and trampled on my favour How o●t have I s●ood knocking a● 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 thyself if thou hast aught 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 errors And fill thy face with his amazing terrors And let thee see the flaming pit of hell Where all that have no part in him shall dwell When he shall thus expostulate the case How canst 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 thyself from punishment by flight Or wilt thou be eternally accursed And 'bide his vengeance let him do his worst Oh who can bear his indignations heat Or 'bide their pains o● hell which are so great I● than thou neither canst his wrath endure Nor any ransom after death procure If neither Cries nor Tears can move his heart To pardon thee or mitigate thy smart● But unto Hell thou must perforce be sent With dismal horror 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 God's anger Thou hangest over the infernal pit By one small thread and carest thou not a whit There 's but a s●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 ●r sleep a night Or in thy creature comforts take delight Or with vain toys thyself forgetful make How near thou art unto the burning Lake How canst thou live without tormenting fears How canst thou hold from weeping floods of tears Yea tears of blood 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 misspendeth For as the Tree doth fall right so it lies And man continues in what s●ate he dies Who happy die shall happy rise again Who cursed di● shall cursed still remain If under sin and wrath death leaves thee bound At Judgement under wrath thou shalt be found And then woe woe that ever thou wert born O wretched man of heaven and earth forlorn Consider this all ye that God forget Who all his threatenings at nought do set Le●● into pieces he begin to tear Your souls and there be no deliver●r O you that now sing care and fear away Think o●ten of that formidable day Wherein the heavens with a mighty noise And with an hideous heart-confounding voice Shall pass away together being rolled As men are wont their garments up to fold When th' Elements with ●ervent heat shall melt And living creatures in the same shall swelled 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 yourselves begin For all your damned sloth and negligence And unbelief and gross impenitence When you shall hear that dreadful Sentence pas● That all the wicked into hell be cast What horror will your consciences ●u●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 fly out of hell And view the Dungeon where you are to dwell Wherein you must eternally remain In anguish and intolerable pain What when your hands and feet are bound together And you are cast into that Lake for ever Then shall you feel the truth of what you hear That hellish pains are more than you can bear And that those torments are an hundred fold More terrible than 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 perilous and deadly way We who have known and felt Jehovah's terrors Persuade men to repent them of their errors 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 enclosed 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 kindness 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 than thou wilt believe Lift up thine eyes and ●ee God's 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 myself refresh With those delights that gratify the flesh And yet repent before it be too late And get into a comfortable state I hope I have yet m●ny years to spend And time enough those matters to attend Presumptuous heart is God engaged to give A longer time to such as love to live Like Rebels still who think to slain 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 B●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 than it will an harder matter prove To leave those wicked haunts that thou dost love The Blackmore may as easily change his skin As old transgressors leave their wont 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 By'r 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 Corpse and damned Ghost ere night Oh dream not then that it will serve the turn Upon thy deathbed ●or thy sins to mourn But think how many have been snatched 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 dy● And late Repentance seldom proveth true Which if it fail thou knowst 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 Satan's wile Whereby he doth great multitudes beguile● How many thousands hath this strong delusion Already brought to ruin and con●usion Whose souls are now reserved 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 terror say This night shall Devils ●etch thy Soul away Now seek the face of God with all thy heart Acknowledge unto him how vile thou art ●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 unto the lowest Pit From whence no price should ever ransom it And that he may most justly do it still Because thou hast deserved it if he will Yet also tell him that if he shall please He can forgive thy sins and thee release And that in Christ his Son he may be just And justify all those that on him trust That though thy sins are of a Crimson die Yet Christ his blood can cleanse thee thoroughly Tell him that he may make his glorious Name More wonderful by covering thy ●hame That Mercy may be greatly magnified And Justice also fully satisfied If he shall please to own thee in his Son Who hath paid dear for Man's Redemption Tell him thou hast an unbelieving heart Which hindereth thee ●rom coming for a part In Christ and that although his terrors awe thee Thou canst not come till he be pleased to draw thee Tell him thou knowst thy heart to be so bad And thy condition so exceeding sad That though Salvation may be had for nought Thou canst not come and take till thou be brought Oh beg of him to bow thy stubborn will To come to Christ that he thy lusts may kill Look up to Christ for his attractive power Which he exerteth in a needful hour Who saith When as I lifted up shall be Then will I draw all sorts of men to me Oh wait upon him with due diligence And trembling fear in every Ordinance Unto his Call earnest attention give Whose voice makes deaf men hear & dead men live● Thus weep and mourn thus hearken pray & wait Till he behold and pity thine estate Who is more ready to bestow his Grace Then thou the same art ready to embrace Yea he hath might enough to bring thee home Though thou hast neither strength nor will to come If he delay to answer thy Request Know that oft times he doth it for the best Not with intent to drive us from his door But ●or to make us importune him more Or else to bring us duly to con●ess And be convinced of our unworthiness Oh be not weary then but persevere To beg his Grace till he thy suit shall hear And leave him not nor ●rom his footstool go● Till over thee Compassion's skirt he throw Eternal life will recompense thy pains If ●ound at last with Everlasting gains For if the Lord be pleased to hear thy cries And to forgive thy great iniquities Thou wilt have cause for ever to admire And laud his Grace that granted thy desire Theu shalt thou find thy labour is not lost But that the good obtained surmounts the cost Nor shalt thou grieve for loss of sinful pleasures Exchanged sor heavenly joys & lasting treasures The yoke of Christ which once thou didst esteem A tedious yoke shall then most easy ●eem For why The love o● Christ shall thee constrain To take delight in that which was thy pain The ways of Wisdom shall be pleasant ways And thou shalt choose therein to spend thy days● If once thy Soul be brought to such a pass O bless the Lord and magnify his Grace Thou that of late hadst reason to be sad May'st now rejoice and be exceeding glad For thy condition is as happy now As erst it was disconsolate and low Thou art become as rich as whilom poor As blessed now as cursed heretofore For being cleansed with Christ's precious blood Thou hast an interest in the Chiefest Good God's anger is towards thy soul appeased And in his Christ he is with thee well-pleased Yea he doth look upon thee with a mild And gracious aspect as upon his child He is become thy Father and thy Friend And will defend thee from the cursed Fiend Thou needest not fear the roaring Lions rage Since God Almighty doth himself engage To bear thy Soul in Everlasting Arms Above the reach of all destructive harms Whats'ever here thy sufferings may be Yet ●rom them all the Lord shall rescue thee He will preserve thee by his wondrous might Unto that rich Inheritance in light Oh sing for joy all ye Regenerate Whom Christ hath brought into this blessed state O love the Lord all ye his Saints who hath Redeemed you from everlasting wrath Who hath by dying made your Souls to live And what he dearly bought doth freely give Give up yourselves to walk in all his ways And study how to live unto his praise The time is ●hort you have to ●erve him here The day of your deliverance draweth near Lift up your heads ye upright ones in heart Who in Christ's Purchase have obtained a part● Behold he rides upon a shining Cloud With Angel's voice and Trumpet sounding loud He comes to save his folk from all their foes And plague the men that Holiness oppose So come Lord jesus quickly come we pray Yea come and hasten our Redemption day A SONG of EMPTINESS to fill up the Empty Pages following VANITY OF VANITIES VAin frail shore-lived and miserable man Learn what thou art when thine estate is best A restless Wave o' th' troubled Ocean A Dream a lifeless Picture finely dressed A Wind a Flower a Vapour and a Bubble A Wheel that stands not still and a trembling Reed A rolling Stone dry dust light Chaff and Stubble A Shadow of something but nought indeed Learn what deceitful Toys and empty things This World and all its best Enjoyments be Out of the Earth no true Contentment springs But all things here are vexing vanity For what is Beauty but a fading Flower O● what is Pleasure but the Devil's bait Whereby he catch●th whom he would devour And multitudes of Souls doth ruinate And what are Friends but mortal men as we Whom Death from us may quickl● separate Or else their hearts may quite estranged be And all their love be turned into hate And what a●e Riches to be doted on Uncertain fickle and ensnaring things They draw men's Souls into Perdition And when most needed take th●m to their wings Ah foolish man that sets his heart upon Such empty shadows such wild fowl as these That being gotten will be quickly gone And whilst they stay increase but his disease As in a Dropsy drinking drought begets The more he drinks the more he still requires So on this World whos● affection sets His Wealth 's increase increaseth his desires O happy man whose Portion is above Where Floods● where Flames where Foes cannot bereave him Most wretched man that fixed hath his love Upon this World that surely will deceive him For what is Honour what is Sovereignty Whereto men's hearts so restlessly aspire Whom have they Crowned with Felicity When did they ever satisfy desire The Ear of man with hearing is not filled To see new sights ●till coveteth the Eye The croaking Stomach though it may be stilled Yet croaks again without a new supply All earthly things man's cravings answer not Whose little Heart would all the world contain If all the world should fall to one man's Lot And notwithstanding empty still remain The Eastern Conqueror was said to weep When he the Indian Ocean did view To see his conquests bounded by the Deep And no more world's remaining to be subdue Who would that man in his Enjoyments bless Or envy him or covet his estate Whose gettings do augment his greediness And make his Wishes more intemperate Such is the wont and the common guise Of those on Earth that bear the greatest sway If with a few the case be otherwise T●ey seek a Kingdom that abides for ay Moreover they of all the Sons of men That Rule and are in highest Places set Are most inclined to scorn their Brethren And God himself without great Grace forget For as the Sun doth blind the gazer's eyes That for a time they nought discern aright So Honour doth befool and blind the Wise And their own Lustre ' reaves them of their sight Great are their Dangers manifold their Cares Through which whilst others sleep they scarcely nap And yet are oft surprised unawares And fall unwitting into Envies Trap. The mean Mechanic finds his kindly rest All void of fear sleepeth the Country Clown When greatest Princes often are distressed And cannot sleep upon their Beds of Down Could Strength or Valour men Immortalize Could Wealth or Honour keep them from decay There were some cause the same to Idolise And give the lie to that which I do say But neither can such things themselves endure Without the hazard of a Change one hour Nor such as trust in them can they secure From dismal days or Death's prevailing power If Beauty could the beautiful defend From Death's dominion then fair Absalome Had not been brought to such a shameful end But fair and foul unto the Grave must come If Wealth or Sceptres could Immortal make Then wealthy Croesus wherefore art thou dead If Warlike Force which makes the World to quake Then why is Julius Caesar perished Where are the Scipio'● Thunderbolts of War Victorious Pompey Caesar's Enemee Stout Hannibal Rome's Terror known so far Great Alexander what 's become of thee If Gifts and Bribes Death's favour might but win If Power it force or threatenings might it fray All these and more had still surviving been But all are gone for Death will take no Nay Such is this World with all her Pomp and Glory Such are the men whom worldly eyes admire Cut down by Time and now become a Story That we might after better things aspire Go boast thyself of what thine heart enjoys Vain man triumph in all thy worldly Bliss Thy best Enjoyments are but trash and toys Delight thyself in that which worthless i● Omnia praetereunt praeter Amare Deum FINIS