Classic Poem

41

For them it was that I did pass
through sorrows many one:
That I drank up that bitter Cup,
which made me sigh and groan.
The Cross his pain I did sustain;
yea more, my Fathers ire
I underwent, my Blood I spent
to save them from Hell fire.

42

Thus I esteem'd, thus I redeem'd
all these from every Nation,
That they may be (as now you see)
a chosen Generation.
What if ere-while they were as vile,
and bad as any be,
And yet from all their guilt and thrall
at once I set them free?

43

My grace to one is wrong to none:
none can Election claim,
Amongst all those their souls that lose,
none can Rejection blame.
He that may chuse, or else refuse,
all men to save or spill,
May this Man chuse, and that refuse,
redeeming whom he will.

44

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 procur'd,
That they of bliss and happiness
might firmly be assur'd.

45

And this my grace they did imbrace,
believing on my Name;
Which Faith was true, the fruits do shew
proceeding from the same:
Their Penitence, their Patience,
their Love and Self-denial
In suffering losses, and bearing Crosses,
when put upon the tryal.

46

Their sin forsaking, their chearful taking
my yoke, their Charity
Unto the Saints in all their wants,
and in them unto me,
These things do clear, and make appear
their Faith to be unfaigned,
And that a part in my desert
and purchase they have gained.

47

Their debts are paid, their peace is made,
their sins remitted are;
Therefore at once I do pronounce,
and openly declare:
That Heav'n is theirs, that they be Heirs
of Life and of Salvation!
Nor ever shall they come at all
to Death or to Damnation.

48

Come, Blessed Ones, and sit on Thrones,
Judging the World with me:
Come, and possess your happiness,
and bought felicitie,
Henceforth no fears, no care, no tears,
no sin shall you annoy,
Nor any thing that grief doth bring:
Eternal Rest enjoy.

49

You bore the Cross, you suffered loss
of all for my Names sake:
Receive the Crown that's now your own;
come, and a Kingdom take.
Thus spake the Judge; the wicked grudge,
and grind their teeth in vain;
They see with groans these plac't on Thrones
which addeth to their pain:

50

That those whom they did wrong & slay,
must now their judgment see!
Such whom they slighted, & once despighted,
must now their Judges be!
Thus 'tis decreed, such is their meed,
and guerdon glorious!
With Christ they sit, Judging is fit
to plague the Impious.