Classic Poem

182

Thus all mens Pleas the Judge with ease
doth answer and confute,
Until that all, both great and small,
are silenced and mute.
Vain hopes are cropt, all mouths are stopt,
sinners have nought to say,
But that 'tis just, and equal most
they should be damn'd for ay.

183

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!
'T had happy been they ne're had seen
the Sun, or not been born.

184

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 Serpents generation,
Who do not fear this doom to hear,
and sentence of Damnation!

185

This is their state so desperate:
their sins are fully known;
Their vanities and villanies
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.

186

Divine Justice offended is
and Satisfaction claimeth:
God's 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.

187

Their mouths are shut, each man is 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 shew
(For Mercies day is past away)
to any of this Crew.

188

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 state: for Advocate
to plead their Cause there's none:
None to prevent their punishment,
or misery bemone.

189

O dismal day! wither shall they
for help and succour flee?
To God above, with hopes to move
their greatest Enemee:
His wrath is great, whose burning heat
no floods of tears can slake:
His word stands fast, that they be cast
into the burning Lake.

190

To Christ their Judge, he doth adjudge
them to the Pit of Sorrow;
Nor will he hear, or cry, or tear,
nor respite them one morrow.
To Heav'n alas, they cannot pass,
it is against them shut;
To enter there (O heavy cheer)
they out of hopes are put.

191

Unto their Treasures, or to their Pleasures,
all these have them forsaken:
Had they full Coffers to make large offers,
their Gold would not be taken
Unto the place where whilome was
their Birth and Education?
Lo! Christ begins for their great sins
to fire the Earths Foundation:

192

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?

193

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 bretheren
in sin and wickedness,
Should they make mone? their case is one,
they're in the same distress.

194

Ah, cold comfort, and mean support
from such like Comforters!
Ah, little joy of Company,
and fellow-sufferers!
Such shall increase their hearts disease,
and add unto their woe,
Because that they brought to decay
themselves and many moe.