Michael Wigglesworth (1631—1705)

CXXVI.

To whom the Lord returns this word:
“O wonderful deceits!
To cast off awe of God’s strict law,
and fear men’s wrath and threats;
To fear hell-fire and God’s fierce ire
less than the rage of men;
As if God’s wrath could do less scath
than wrath of bretheren!

CXXVII.

“To use such strife, a temp’ral life
to rescue and secure,
And be so blind as not to mind
that life that will endure!
This was your case, who carnal peace
more than true joys did savor;
Who fed on dust, clave to your lust,
and spurned at my favor.

CXXVIII.

“To please your kin, men’s love to win,
to flow in worldly wealth,
To save your skin, these things have been
more than Eternal health.
You had your choice, wherein rejoice;
it was your porti-on.
For which you chose your souls t’ expose
unto Perditi-on.

CXXIX.

“Who did not hate friends, life, and state,
with all things else for me,
forsake and’s Cross up-take
shall never happy be.
Well worthy they to die for aye,
who death than life had rather;
Death is their due that so value
the friendship of my Father.“

Some plead the Scripture’s darkness, and difference among Interpreters.

CXXI.

“We had thy Word,” say some, “but Lord,
wiser men than we
Could never yet interpret it,
but always disagree.
How could we fools be led by Rules
so far beyond our ken.
Which to explain did so much pain
and puzzle wisest men?“

They are confuted.

CXXII.

“Was all my Word abstruse and hard?”
the Judge then answeréd;
“It did contain much Truth so plain
you might have run and read.
But what was hard you never car’d
to know, or studiéd;
And things that were most plain and clear
you never practiséd.

CXXIII.

“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
had seeméd good to you,
You would have sought light as you ought,
and done the good you knew.“

Others the fear of persecution.

CXXIV.

Then came in view another crew,
and ’gan to make their pleas;
Amongst the rest, some of the best
had such poor shifts as these:
“Thou know’st right well, who all canst tell,
we liv’d amongst thy foes.
Who the Renate did sorely hate
and goodness much oppose.

CXXV.

“We holiness durst not profess,
fearing to be forlorn
Of all our friends, and for amends
to be the wicked’s scorn.
We knew their anger would much endanger
our lives and our estates;
Therefore, for fear, we durst appear
no better than our mates.“