Classic Poem

1

Most men live Libertie,
And covet Elbow-room
To have their Wills, to serve their Lusts,
And up and down to rome.
God's Wayes they count a Prison,
His Precepts and Commands
A heavy Yoke; his Threatenings
Like Fetters and strong Bands.

2

Come let us break their Bands
And cast their cords from us:
Let's give the Reins unto our Lusts,
And not be Bridled thus.
This Liberty of theirs
The greatest Bondage is:
For he's a Bondslave unto Sin
That loves to do amiss.

3

He is a Prisoner
Unto his mortal Foe,
Who leads him bound with Cords of sin
Unto Eternal woe.
Such Prisoners may enjoy,
External Libertie,
And being under no Restraint
They run to Hell more free.

4

Ah woful Liberty!
To such as it abuse;
Which leads them to Captivity,
Who their own Bondage chuse.
I rather had be bound
With Fetters made of Brass,
Then to enjoy my Liberty
And be at such a pass.

5

God bindeth some in Chains,
And in Afflictions Cords,
And by these Bands, unto their Souls
More Libertie affords.
Who would not be in thrall,
Soul-Liberty to gain,
Rather than Sins and Satan's thrall,
And Captive to remain?

6

Manasseh was a slave
To Sin and never free;
Until his Foes had carried him
Into Captivitie:
But being bound in Chains,
He calls to mind his sins,
Humbleth himself, and to bewail
His former life begins.

7

His Prison was a place
Of greatest Libertie:
For from the bondage of his sins
It helpt to set him free.
As Liberty-abus'd
Procur'd his Misery:
So Bonds him humble and prepar'd
For blessed Liberty.

8

While Jonah's stubborn will
Did over him prevail
It brought him down into the Deeps
And Belly of the Whale
That fearful Prison house
Him to Repentance brought,
And then for Body and for Soul
The Lord Salvation wrought.

9

The Basket of good Figs
To Babylon were sent
In mercy that they might be freed
From sorer punishment.
That being humbled there
Under God's mighty hand,
He might return them back again
Into their Native Land.

10

Thus some that are in Bonds
By Bondage, get more free:
Others are fetter'd with their sins
That walk at Libertee.
His own Iniquity
The wicked man shall take:
His sins like Cords, shall hold him fast,
And Satan's Prisoner make.