Classic Poem

156

These words appall and daunt them all;
dismai'd, 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 Gods Laws transgress.

157

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

158

You ne'r abus'd, nor yet refus'd
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 mens offence,
But for your own transgression
receive due recompence.

159

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

160

We did not know a Christ till now,
nor how faln man be saved,
Else would we not, right well we wot,
have so our selves behaved.
We should have mourn'd, we should have turn'd
from sin at thy Reproof,
And been more wise through thy advice,
for our own Souls behoof.

161

But Natures Light shin'd not so bright
to teach us the right way:
We might have lov'd it, and well improv'd,
and yet have gone astray.
The Judge most High makes this Reply,
you ignorance pretend,
Dimness of sight, and want of light
your course Heav'nward to bend.

162

How came your mind to be so blind?
I once you knowledge gave,
Clearness of sight, and judgment right;
who did the same deprave?
If to your cost you have it lost,
and quite defac'd the same;
Your own desert hath caus'd the Smart,
you ought not me to blame.

163

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

164

'Tis vain to tell, you wot full well,
if you in time had known
Your Misery and Remedy,
your actions had it shown.
You, sinful Crew, have not been true
unto the Light of Nature,
Nor done the good you understood,
nor owned your Creator.

165

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