Classic Poem

51

The wicked are brought to the Bar,
like guilty Malefactors,
That oftentimes of bloody Crimes
and Treasons have been Actors.
Of wicked Men, none are so mean
as there to be neglected:
Nor none so high in dignity,
as there to be respected.

52

The glorious Judge will priviledge
nor Emperour, nor King:
But every one that hath mis-done
doth unto Judgment bring.
And every one that hath mis-done,
the Judge impartially
Comdemneth to eternal wo,
and endless misery.

53

Thus one and all, thus great and small,
the Rich as well as Poor,
And those of place as the most base,
do stand the Judge before.
They are arraign'd, and there detain'd,
before Christ's Judgement-seat
With trembling fear, their Doom to hear
and feel his angers heat.

54

There Christ demands at all their hands
a strict and strait account
Of all things done under the Sun,
whose number far surmount
Man's wit & thought: yet all are brought
unto this solemn Tryal;
And each offence with evidence,
so that there's no denial

55

There's no excuses for their abuses,
since their own Consciences
More proof give in of each Man's sin,
than thousand Witnesses,
Though formerly this faculty
had grosly been abused,
Men could it stifle, or with it trifle,
when as it them accused.

56

Now it comes in, and every sin
unto Mens charge doth lay:
It judgeth them, and doth condemn,
though all the world say nay.
It so stingeth and tortureth,
it worketh such distress,
That each Man's self against himself,
is forced to confess.

57

It's vain, moreover, for Men to cover
the least iniquity:
The Judge hath seen, and privy been
to all their villany.
He unto light, and open sight
the works of darkness brings:
He doth unfold both new and old,
both known and hidden things.

58

All filthy facts, and secret acts,
however closely done,
And long concel'd, are there reveal'd
before the mid-day Sun.
Deeds of the night shunning the light,
which darkest corners sought,
To fearful blame, and endless shame,
are there most justly brought.

59

And as all facts and grosser acts,
so every word and thought,
Erroneous notion, and lustful motion,
are unto judgment brought,
No sin so small and trivial
but hither it must come:
Nor so long past, but now at last
it must receive a doom.

60

At this sad season, Christ asks a Reason
(with just Austerity)
Of Grace refused, of light abus'd
so oft, so wilfully:
Of Talents lent by them mispent,
and on their Lust bestown;
Which if improv'd, as it behov'd,
Heav'n might have been their own!