Michael Wigglesworth (1631—1705)

The wicked all convinced and put to silence.

CLXXXI.

“A crime it is, therefore in bliss
you may not hope to dwell;
But unto you I shall allow
The easiest room in Hell.“
The glorious King thus answering,
they cease, and plead no longer;
Their Consciences must needs confess
his Reasons are the stronger.

Behold the formidable estate of all the ungodly as they stand
hopeless and helpless before an impartial Judge, expecting their final Sentence.

CLXXXII.

Thus all men’s pleas the Judge with ease
doth answer and confute,
Until that all, both great and small,
are silencéd and mute.
Vain hopes are cropt, all mouths are stopt,
sinners have naught to say,
But that ’tis just and equal most
they should be damn’d for aye.

CLXXXIII.

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’er had seen
the sun, or not been born.

CLXXXIV.

Yea now it would be good they could
themselves annihilate.
And cease to be, themselves to free
from such a fearful state.
O happy Dogs, and Swine, and Frogs,
yea, Serpent’s generation!
Who do not fear this doom to hear,
and sentence of Damnation!

CLXXXV.

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 in th’ Air, or than their hair,
or sands upon the shore.

Michael Wigglesworth (1631—1705)

The free gift.

CLXXVII.

“I may deny you once to try,
or Grace to you to tender.
Though he finds Grace before my face
who was the chief offender;
Else should my Grace cease to be Grace,
for it would not be free,
If to release whom I should please
I have no liberty.

CLXXVIII.

“If upon one what’s due to none.
I frankly shall bestow,
And on the rest shall not think best
compassion’s skirt to throw,
Whom injure I? will you envy
and grudge at others’ weal?
Or me accuse, who do refuse
yourselves to help and heal ?

CLXXIX.

“Am I alone of what’s my own,
no Master or no Lord?
And if I am, how can you claim
what I to some afford?
Will you demand Grace at my hand,
and challenge what is mine?
Will you teach me whom to set free,
and thus my Grace confine?

CLXXX.

“You sinners are, and such a share
as sinners, may expect;
Such you shall have, for I do save
none but mine own Elect.
Yet to compare your sin with their
who liv’d a longer time,
I do confess yours is much less,
though every sin’s a crime.