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.“

Michael Wigglesworth (1631—1705)

Some plead examples of their betters.

CXIV.

Then were brought in and charg’d with sin,
another Company,
Who by Petition obtain’d permission
to make Apology.
They arguéd, “We were misled,
as is well known to thee.
By their example that had more ample
abilities than we;

CXV.

“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.“

Who are told that examples are no Rules.

CXVI.

The Judge replies: “I gave you eyes,
And light to see your way,
Which had you lov’d and well improv’d,
you had not gone astray.
My Word was pure, the Rule was sure;
Why did you it forsake,
Or thereon trample, and men’s example
your Directory make?

CXVII.

“This you well knew: that God is true,
and that most men are liars,
In word professing holiness,
in deed thereof deniers.
simple fools! that having Rules,
your lives to regulate.
Would them refuse, and rather choose
vile men to imitate.“

They urge that they were led by godly men’s Examples.
But all their shifts turn to their greater shame.

CXVIII.

“But, Lord,” say they, “we went astray,
and did more wickedly,
By means of those whom thou has chose
Salvation’s heirs to be.“
To whom the Judge: “What you allege
doth nothing help the case,
But makes appear how vile you were,
and rend’reth you more base.

CXIX.

“You understood that what was good,
was to be followéd.
And that you ought that which was naught
to have relinquished.
Contrariwise it was your guise
only to imitate
Good men’s defects, and their neglects
who were regenerate.

CXX.

“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,
to follow them therein.“

Michael Wigglesworth (1631—1705)

Those that pretend want of opportunity to repent.

CVII.

A wondrous crowd then ’gan aloud
thus for themselves to say:
“We did intend, Lord, to amend,
and to reform our way.
Our true intent was to repent
and make our peace with thee;
But sudden death stopping our breath,
left us no liberty.

CVIII.

“Short was our time, for in its prime
our youthful pow’r was cropt;
We died in youth before full growth,
so was our purpose stopt.
Let our good will to turn from ill,
and sin to have forsaken,
Accepted be, Lord, by thee,
and in good part be taken.“

Are confuted and convicted.

CIX.

To whom the Judge: “Where you allege
the shortness of the space,
That from your birth you liv’d on earth,
to compass saving Grace,
It was Free Grace that any space
was given you at all,
To turn from evil, defy the Devil,
and upon God to call.

CX.

“One day, one week wherein to seek
God’s face with all your hearts,
A favor was that far did pass
the best of your deserts.
You had a season; what was your reason
such precious hours to waste?
What could you find, what could you mind
that was of greater haste?

CXI.

“Could you find time for vain pastime,
for loose, licentious mirth?
For fruitless toys and fading joys,
that perish in the birth?
Had you good leisure for carnal Pleasure,
in days of health and youth?
And yet no space to seek God’s face,
and turn to him in truth?

CXII.

“In younger years, beyond your fears,
what if you were surprizéd?
You put away the evil day,
and of long life deviséd.
You oft were told, and might behold,
that Death no Age doth spare;
Why then did you your time foreslow,
and slight your soul’s welfare?

CXIII.

“Had your intent been to repent,
and had you it desir’d,
There would have been endeavors seen
before your time expir’d.
God makes no treasure, nor hath he pleasure
in idle purposes;
Such fair pretenses are foul offenses,
and cloaks for wickedness.“