VOL. I. They rush from beds with giddy heads, Viewing this light, which shines more bright Straightway appears (they see 't with tears,) Before his face the heavens gave place, With mighty voice, and hideous noise, His brightness damps heaven's glorious lamps, They quit their wonted steads. Ye sons of men that durst contemn Now atheist blind, whose brutish mind A God could never see, Dost thou perceive, dost now believe That Christ thy judge shalt be? Stout courages, (whose hardiness Hath us undone, undone." No heart so bold, but now grows cold No eye so dry, but now can cry, Earth's potentates and powerful states, Are quite abash'd, their courage dash'd 4* Mean men lament, great men do rent All kindreds wail: all hearts do fail: With weeping eyes, and loud outcries, Some hide themselves in caves and delves, In places under ground: Some rashly leap into the deep, To 'scape by being drown'd: Some to the rocks (O senseless blocks!) That there they might this fearful sight, In vain do they to mountains say, No hiding place can from his face, Whose flaming eye hid things doth spy, Then were brought in, and charg'd with sin, Another company, Who by petition obtain'd permission, To make apology: They argued, "We were misled, As is well known to thee, By their example, that had more ample Such as profess'd they did detest And hate each wicked way: Whose seeming grace whilst we did trace, Our souls were led astray. When men of parts, learning and arts, Professing piety, Did thus and thus, it seem'd to us We might take liberty. The judge replies, "I gave you eyes, And light to see your way, Which had you lov'd, and well improv'd, My word was pure, the rule was sure, Or thereon trample, and men's example, This you well knew, that God is true, In deed thereof deniers. Would them refuse, and rather choose "But Lord," say they, "we went astray, And did more wickedly, By means of those whom thou hast chose To whom the judge; "what you allege, You understood that what was good Was to be followed, And that you ought that which was naught To have relinquished. Contrary ways, it was your guise, Only to imitate Good men's defects, and their neglects That were regenerate. But to express their holiness, Or imitate their grace, You little car'd, nor once prepar'd Your hearts to seek my face. They did repent, and truly rent Their hearts for all known sin: You did offend, but not amend, "We had thy word," say some, "O Lord, But wiser men than we Could never yet interpret it, But always disagree. How could we fools be led by rules, Which to explain did so much pain, "Was all my word abstruse and hard? "It did contain much truth so plain, And things that were most plain and clear You never practised. The mystery of piety God unto babes reveals; When to the wise he it denies, And from the world conceals. If to fulfil God's holy will You would have sought light as you ought, Who to evade the guilt that's laid Upon them thus retort; * "How could we cease thus to transgress? How could we hell avoid, Whom God's decree shut out from thee, And sign'd to be destroy'd? Whom God ordains to endless pains, Repentance true, obedience new, To save such are unable: Of man's fall'n race who can true grace Or holiness obtain ? Who can convert or change his heart, Had we applied ourselves and tried Christ readily makes this reply ; Whom God will save such will he have The means of life to use: Whom he 'll pass by, shall choose to die, And ways of life refuse. He that foresees, and foredecrees, In wisdom order'd has, High God's decree, as it is free, They have their wish whose souls perish Who rather chose their souls to lose, |