Thus he doth find of all mankind
66
Thus he doth find of all Mankind,
that stand at his left hand,
No Mothers Son, but hath mis-done,
and broken God's Command.
All have transgrest, even the best,
and merited God's wrath
Unto their own perdition,
and everlasting scath.
67
Earths 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 cursed race.
68
Nevertheless, they all express,
Christ granting liberty,
What for their way they have to say,
how they have liv'd, and why.
They all draw near, and seek to clear
themselves by making pleas.
There Hypocrites, false-hearted wights,
do make such pleas as these:
69
Lord, in thy Name, and by the same,
we Devils dispossest,
We rais'd the dead, and ministred
succour to the distrest.
Our painful teaching, and pow'rful preaching
by thine own wondrous might,
Did throughly win to God from sin
many a wretched wight.
70
All this, quoth he, may granted be,
and your case little better'd,
Who still remain under a chain,
and many irons fetter'd.
You that the dead have quickened,
and rescu'd from the grave,
Your selves were dead, yet never ned,
a Christ your Souls to save.
71
You that could preach, and others teach
what way to life doth lead;
Why were you slack to find that track,
and in that way to tread?
How could you bear to see or hear
of others freed at last,
From Satan's pawes whilst in his jawes
your selves were held more fast?
72
Who though you knew 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, with true intent,
your evil deeds to leave.
73
His Masters will how to fulfill
the servant that well knew,
Yet left undone his duty known,
more plagues to him are due.
You against light perverted right;
wherefore it shall be now
For Sidon and for Sodoms Land
more easie than for you.
74
But we have in thy presence been,
say some, and eaten there.
Did we not eat thy Flesh for meat,
and feed on heavenly Cheer?
Whereon who feed shall never need,
as thou thy self dost say,
Nor shall they dy eternally,
but live with Christ for ay.
75
We may alledge, thou gav'st a pledge
of thy dear love to us
In Wine and Bread, which figured
thy Grace bestowed thus.
Of strengthning Seals, of sweetest Meals,
have we so oft partaken;
And shall we be cast off by thee,
and utterly forsaken?
76
To whom the Lord thus in a word
returns a short reply,
I never knew any of you
that wrought iniquity.
You say y'have been my Presence in:
but friends, how came you there
With Raiment vile that did defile
and quite disgrace my Cheer?
77
Durst you draw near without due fear
unto my holy Table?
Durst you prophane, 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.
78
How durst you venture, bold guests, to enter
in such a sordid hew,
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 rendred vile
so rare and great Salvation?
79
Your fancies fed on heav'nly Bread,
your hearts fed on some Lust:
You lov'd the Creature more than th' Creator,
your Souls clave to the dust.
And think you by Hypocrisie,
and cloaked Wickedness,
To enter in, laden with sin,
to lasting happiness?
80
This your excuse shews your abuse
of things ordain'd for good;
And doth 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.
81
Then forth issue another Crew
(those being silenced)
Who drawing nigh to the most High
adventure thus to plead:
We sinners were, say they, it's clear,
deserving Condemnation:
But did not we rely on thee,
O Christ, for whole Salvation?
82
We did believe and oft receive
thy gracious promises:
We took great care to get a share
in endless happiness.
We pray'd and wept, we Fast-dayes kept,
lewd ways we did eschew:
We joyful were thy Word to hear;
we form'd our lives anew.
83
We thought our sin had pard'ned been;
that our Estate was good,
Our debts all paid, our peace well made,
our Souls wash'd with thy Blood.
Lord, why dost thou reject us now,
who have not thee rejected,
Nor utterly true sanctity
and holy life neglected.
84
The Judge incensed at their pretenced
self-va[u]nting Piety,
With such a look as trembling strook
into them, made reply;
O impudent, inpenitent,
and guileful generation!
Think you that I cannot descry
your hearts abomination?
85
You nor receiv'd, nor yet believ'd
my Promises of Grace;
Nor were you wise enough to prize
my reconciled Face:
But did presume that to assume
which was not yours to take,
And challenged the Childrens bread,
yet would not sin forsake.
86
Being too bold you laid fast hold,
where int'rest you had none,
Your selves deceiving by your believing,
all which you might have known,
You ran away, but ran astray,
with Gospel-promises,
And perished; being still dead
in sins and trespasses.
87
How oft did I Hypocrisie
and Hearts deceit 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 retain.
88
As for your care to get a share
in bliss; the fear of Hell,
And of a part in endless smart,
did thereunto compell.
Your holiness and ways redress,
such as it was, did spring
From no true love to things above,
but from some other thing.
89
You pray'd and wept, you Fast-days kept;
but did you this to me?
No, but for sin, you sought to win,
the greater libertie.
For all your vaunts, you had vile haunts,
for which your Consciences
Did you alarm, whose voice to charm
you us'd these practices.
90
Your Penitence, your diligence
to Read, to Pray, to Hear,
Were but to drown'd the clamorous sound
of Conscience in your ear.
If light you lov'd, vain glory mov'd
your selves therewith to store,
That seeming wise, men might you prize,
and honour you the more.
91
Thus from your selves unto your selves,
your duties all do tend:
And as self-love the wheels doth move,
so in self-love they end.
Thus Christ detects their vain projects,
and close Impiety,
And plainly shews that all their shows
were but Hypocrisy.
92
Then were brought nigh a Company
of Civil honest Men,
That lov'd true dealing, and hated stealing,
ne'r wrong'd their Bretheren;
Who pleaded thus, Thou knowest us
that we were blameless livers;
No Whoremongers, no Murderers,
no quarrellers nor strivers.
93
Idolaters, Adulterers,
Church-robbers we were none,
Nor false-dealers, no couzeners,
but paid each man his own.
Our way was fair, our dealing square,
we were no wastful spenders,
No lewd toss-pots, no drunken sots,
no scandalous offenders.
94
We hated vice, and set great price,
by vertuous 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.
95
Thus to obey, hath been our way;
let our good deeds, we pray,
Find some regard and some reward
with thee, O Lord, this day.
And whereas we transgressors be,
of Adam's Race were none,
No not the best, but have confest
themselves to have mis-done.
96
Then answered unto their dread,
the Judge: True Piety
God doth desire and eke require
no less than honesty.
Justice demands at all your hands
perfect Obedience:
If but in part you have come short,
that is a just offence.
97
On Earth below, where men did ow[e]
a thousand pounds and more,
Could twenty pence it recompence?
could that have clear'd the score?
Think you to buy felicity
with part of what's due debt?
Or for desert of one small part,
the whole should off be set?
98
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 hath been,
Before mens eyes, yet God espies
iniquity therein.
99
God looks upon th' affection
and temper of the heart;
Not only on the action,
and the external part.
Whatever end vain men pretend,
God knows the verity;
And by the end which they intend
their words and deeds doth try.
100
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 vanitie,
the which vexation brings.
101
Nor from true faith, which quencheth wrath,
hath your obedience flown:
Nor from true love, which wont to move
Believers hath it grown.
Your argument shews your intent,
in all that you have done:
You thought to scale Heav'ns lofty Wall
by Ladders of your own.
102
Your blinded spirit, hoping to merit
by your own Righteousness,
Needed no Saviour, but your behaviour,
and blameless carriages;
You trusted to what you could do,
and in no need you stood:
Your haughty pride laid me aside,
and trampled on my Blood.
103
All men have gone astray, and done,
that which Gods Laws 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.
104
Again you thought and mainly sought
a name with men t' acquire;
Pride bare the Bell, that made you swell,
and your own selves admire.
Mean fruit it is, and vile, I wiss,
that springs from such a root:
Vertue divine and genuine
wonts not from pride to shoot.
105
Such deeds as your are worse than poor:
they are but sins guilt over
With silver dross, whose glistering gloss
can them no longer cover.
The best of them would you condemn,
and ruine you alone,
Although you were from faults so clear,
that other you had none.
106
Your Gold is brass, your silver dross,
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.
Thus he doth find of all Mankind,
that stand at his left hand,
No Mothers Son, but hath mis-done,
and broken God's Command.
All have transgrest, even the best,
and merited God's wrath
Unto their own perdition,
and everlasting scath.
67
Earths 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 cursed race.
68
Nevertheless, they all express,
Christ granting liberty,
What for their way they have to say,
how they have liv'd, and why.
They all draw near, and seek to clear
themselves by making pleas.
There Hypocrites, false-hearted wights,
do make such pleas as these:
69
Lord, in thy Name, and by the same,
we Devils dispossest,
We rais'd the dead, and ministred
succour to the distrest.
Our painful teaching, and pow'rful preaching
by thine own wondrous might,
Did throughly win to God from sin
many a wretched wight.
70
All this, quoth he, may granted be,
and your case little better'd,
Who still remain under a chain,
and many irons fetter'd.
You that the dead have quickened,
and rescu'd from the grave,
Your selves were dead, yet never ned,
a Christ your Souls to save.
71
You that could preach, and others teach
what way to life doth lead;
Why were you slack to find that track,
and in that way to tread?
How could you bear to see or hear
of others freed at last,
From Satan's pawes whilst in his jawes
your selves were held more fast?
72
Who though you knew 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, with true intent,
your evil deeds to leave.
73
His Masters will how to fulfill
the servant that well knew,
Yet left undone his duty known,
more plagues to him are due.
You against light perverted right;
wherefore it shall be now
For Sidon and for Sodoms Land
more easie than for you.
74
But we have in thy presence been,
say some, and eaten there.
Did we not eat thy Flesh for meat,
and feed on heavenly Cheer?
Whereon who feed shall never need,
as thou thy self dost say,
Nor shall they dy eternally,
but live with Christ for ay.
75
We may alledge, thou gav'st a pledge
of thy dear love to us
In Wine and Bread, which figured
thy Grace bestowed thus.
Of strengthning Seals, of sweetest Meals,
have we so oft partaken;
And shall we be cast off by thee,
and utterly forsaken?
76
To whom the Lord thus in a word
returns a short reply,
I never knew any of you
that wrought iniquity.
You say y'have been my Presence in:
but friends, how came you there
With Raiment vile that did defile
and quite disgrace my Cheer?
77
Durst you draw near without due fear
unto my holy Table?
Durst you prophane, 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.
78
How durst you venture, bold guests, to enter
in such a sordid hew,
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 rendred vile
so rare and great Salvation?
79
Your fancies fed on heav'nly Bread,
your hearts fed on some Lust:
You lov'd the Creature more than th' Creator,
your Souls clave to the dust.
And think you by Hypocrisie,
and cloaked Wickedness,
To enter in, laden with sin,
to lasting happiness?
80
This your excuse shews your abuse
of things ordain'd for good;
And doth 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.
81
Then forth issue another Crew
(those being silenced)
Who drawing nigh to the most High
adventure thus to plead:
We sinners were, say they, it's clear,
deserving Condemnation:
But did not we rely on thee,
O Christ, for whole Salvation?
82
We did believe and oft receive
thy gracious promises:
We took great care to get a share
in endless happiness.
We pray'd and wept, we Fast-dayes kept,
lewd ways we did eschew:
We joyful were thy Word to hear;
we form'd our lives anew.
83
We thought our sin had pard'ned been;
that our Estate was good,
Our debts all paid, our peace well made,
our Souls wash'd with thy Blood.
Lord, why dost thou reject us now,
who have not thee rejected,
Nor utterly true sanctity
and holy life neglected.
84
The Judge incensed at their pretenced
self-va[u]nting Piety,
With such a look as trembling strook
into them, made reply;
O impudent, inpenitent,
and guileful generation!
Think you that I cannot descry
your hearts abomination?
85
You nor receiv'd, nor yet believ'd
my Promises of Grace;
Nor were you wise enough to prize
my reconciled Face:
But did presume that to assume
which was not yours to take,
And challenged the Childrens bread,
yet would not sin forsake.
86
Being too bold you laid fast hold,
where int'rest you had none,
Your selves deceiving by your believing,
all which you might have known,
You ran away, but ran astray,
with Gospel-promises,
And perished; being still dead
in sins and trespasses.
87
How oft did I Hypocrisie
and Hearts deceit 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 retain.
88
As for your care to get a share
in bliss; the fear of Hell,
And of a part in endless smart,
did thereunto compell.
Your holiness and ways redress,
such as it was, did spring
From no true love to things above,
but from some other thing.
89
You pray'd and wept, you Fast-days kept;
but did you this to me?
No, but for sin, you sought to win,
the greater libertie.
For all your vaunts, you had vile haunts,
for which your Consciences
Did you alarm, whose voice to charm
you us'd these practices.
90
Your Penitence, your diligence
to Read, to Pray, to Hear,
Were but to drown'd the clamorous sound
of Conscience in your ear.
If light you lov'd, vain glory mov'd
your selves therewith to store,
That seeming wise, men might you prize,
and honour you the more.
91
Thus from your selves unto your selves,
your duties all do tend:
And as self-love the wheels doth move,
so in self-love they end.
Thus Christ detects their vain projects,
and close Impiety,
And plainly shews that all their shows
were but Hypocrisy.
92
Then were brought nigh a Company
of Civil honest Men,
That lov'd true dealing, and hated stealing,
ne'r wrong'd their Bretheren;
Who pleaded thus, Thou knowest us
that we were blameless livers;
No Whoremongers, no Murderers,
no quarrellers nor strivers.
93
Idolaters, Adulterers,
Church-robbers we were none,
Nor false-dealers, no couzeners,
but paid each man his own.
Our way was fair, our dealing square,
we were no wastful spenders,
No lewd toss-pots, no drunken sots,
no scandalous offenders.
94
We hated vice, and set great price,
by vertuous 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.
95
Thus to obey, hath been our way;
let our good deeds, we pray,
Find some regard and some reward
with thee, O Lord, this day.
And whereas we transgressors be,
of Adam's Race were none,
No not the best, but have confest
themselves to have mis-done.
96
Then answered unto their dread,
the Judge: True Piety
God doth desire and eke require
no less than honesty.
Justice demands at all your hands
perfect Obedience:
If but in part you have come short,
that is a just offence.
97
On Earth below, where men did ow[e]
a thousand pounds and more,
Could twenty pence it recompence?
could that have clear'd the score?
Think you to buy felicity
with part of what's due debt?
Or for desert of one small part,
the whole should off be set?
98
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 hath been,
Before mens eyes, yet God espies
iniquity therein.
99
God looks upon th' affection
and temper of the heart;
Not only on the action,
and the external part.
Whatever end vain men pretend,
God knows the verity;
And by the end which they intend
their words and deeds doth try.
100
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 vanitie,
the which vexation brings.
101
Nor from true faith, which quencheth wrath,
hath your obedience flown:
Nor from true love, which wont to move
Believers hath it grown.
Your argument shews your intent,
in all that you have done:
You thought to scale Heav'ns lofty Wall
by Ladders of your own.
102
Your blinded spirit, hoping to merit
by your own Righteousness,
Needed no Saviour, but your behaviour,
and blameless carriages;
You trusted to what you could do,
and in no need you stood:
Your haughty pride laid me aside,
and trampled on my Blood.
103
All men have gone astray, and done,
that which Gods Laws 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.
104
Again you thought and mainly sought
a name with men t' acquire;
Pride bare the Bell, that made you swell,
and your own selves admire.
Mean fruit it is, and vile, I wiss,
that springs from such a root:
Vertue divine and genuine
wonts not from pride to shoot.
105
Such deeds as your are worse than poor:
they are but sins guilt over
With silver dross, whose glistering gloss
can them no longer cover.
The best of them would you condemn,
and ruine you alone,
Although you were from faults so clear,
that other you had none.
106
Your Gold is brass, your silver dross,
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.
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