LVI.

Now it comes in, and every sin
unto Men’s 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 forcéd to confess.

Secret sins and works of darkness brought to light

LVII.

It’s vain, moreover, for Men to cover
the least Iniquity;
The Judge hath seen, and privy been
to all their villainy.
He unto light and open sight
the work of darkness brings;
He doth unfold both new and old,
both known and hidden things.

LVIII.

All filthy facts and secret acts,
however closely done.
And long conceal’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.

LIX.

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.

An account demanded of all their actions

LX.

At this sad season, Christ asks a Reason
(with just austerity)
Of Grace refus’d, of light abus’d
so oft, so wilfully;
Of Talents lent, by them misspent
and on their Lust bestown,
Which if improv’d as it behoov’d
Heav’n might have been their own;

Prisoners of Hell: Doom

Aug2

Michael Wigglesworth (1631—1705)

XXXVII.

With dismal chains, and strongest reins,
like Prisoners of Hell,
They’re held in place before Christ’s face,
till He their Doom shall tell.
These void of tears, but fill’d with fears,
and dreadful expectation
Of endless pains and scalding flames,
stand waiting for Damnation.

The Saints cleared and justified.

XXVIII.

All silence keep both Goats and Sheep
before the Judge’s Throne;
With mild aspect to his Elect
then speaks the Holy One:
“My Sheep draw near, your Sentence hear,
which is to you no dread,
Who clearly now discern and know
your sins are pardonéd.

XXXIX.

“’Twas meet that ye should judgéd be,
that so the World may spy
No cause of grudge, when as I judge
and deal impartially.
Know therefore all both great and small,
the ground and reason why
These Men do stand at my right hand
and look so cheerfully.

XL.

“These Men be those my Father chose
before the World’s foundation,
And to me gave, that I should save
from Death and Condemnation;
For whose dear sake I flesh did take,
was of a Woman born.
And did inure myself t’ endure
unjust reproach and scorn.

XLI.

“For then it was that I did pass
through sorrows many a one;
That I drank up that bitter Cup
which made me sigh and groan.
The Cross’s pain I did sustain;
yea more, my Father’s ire
I underwent, my Blood I spent
to save them from Hell-fire.

XLII.

“Thus I esteeméd, thus I redeeméd
all these from every Nation,
That they may be (as now you see)
a chosen Generation.
What if ere while they were as vile
and bad as any be.
And yet from all their guilt and thrall
at once I set them free?

XLIII.

“My grace to one is wrong to none;
none can Election claim;
Amongst all those their souls that lose,
none can Rejection blame.
He that may choose, or else refuse,
all men to save or spill,
May this Man choose, and that refuse,
redeeming whom he will.

XLIV.

“But as for those whom I have chose
Salvation’s heirs to be,
I underwent their punishment,
and therefore set them free.
I bore their grief, and their relief
by suffering procur’d.
That they of bliss and happiness
might firmly be assur’d.

XLV.

“And this my grace they did embrace,
believing on my Name;
Which Faith was true, the fruits do shew
proceeding from the same;—
Their Penitence, their Patience,
their Love and Self-denial,
In suff’ring losses and bearing Crosses,
when put upon the trial;—

XLVI.

“Their sin forsaking, their cheerful taking
my Yoke, their Charity
Unto the Saints in all their wants,
and in them unto me;—
These things do clear, and make appear
their Faith to be unfeignéd,
And that a part in my desert
and purchase they have gainéd.

XLVII.

“Their debts are paid, their peace is made,
their sins remitted are;
Therefore at once I do pronounce,
and openly declare,
That Heav’n is theirs, that they be Heirs
of Life and of Salvation;
Nor ever shall they come at all
to Death or to Damnation.

XLVIII.

“Come blessed Ones and sit on Thrones,
judging the World with me;
Come and possess your happiness,
and bought felicity;
Henceforth no fears, no care, no tears,
no sin shall you annoy,
Nor any thing that grief doth bring:
Eternal Rest enjoy.

They are placed on Thrones to join with Christ in judging the wicked.

XLIX.

“You bore the Cross, you suffer’d loss
of all for my Name’s sake;
Receive the Crown that’s now your own;
come, and a Kingdom take.“
Thus spake the Judge: the wicked grudge
and grind their teeth in vain;
They see with groans these plac’d on Thrones,
which addeth to their pain:

Alehouse Haunters & Fiends: Doom

Aug1

Michael Wigglesworth (1631—1705)

XXXI.

Blasphemers lewd, and Swearers shrewd,
scoffers at Purity,
That hated God, contemn’d his Rod,
and lov’d Security;
Sabbath-polluters, Saints-persecutors,
presumptuous men and proud,
Who never lov’d those that reprov’d;
all stand amongst this crowd.

XXXII.

Adulterers and Whoremongers
were there, with all unchast;
There Covetous and Ravenous,
that riches got too fast:
Who us’d vile ways themselves to raise
t’ Estates and worldly wealth,
Oppression by or knavery,
by force, or fraud, or stealth.

XXXIII.

Moreover, there together were
children flagiti-ous.
And Parents who did them, undo
by nurture vici-ous.
False-witness-bearers and self-forswearers,
Murd’rers and Men of Blood,
Witches, Enchanters, and Ale-house haunters,
beyond account there stood.

XXXIV.

Their place there find all Heathen blind
that Nature’s light abus’d,
Although they had no tidings glad
of Gospel grace refus’d
There stand all Nations and Generations
of Adam’s Progeny,
Whom Christ redeem’d not, whom he esteem’d not,
through Infidelity;

XXXV.

Who no Peace-maker, no undertaker,
to shroud them from God’s ire.
Ever obtain’d; they must be pain’d
with everlasting fire.
These num’rous bands, wringing their hands,
and weeping all stand there.
Filléd with anguish, whose hearts do languish,
through self-tormenting fear,

XXXVI.

Fast by them stand at Christ’s left hand,
the Lion fierce and fell.
The Dragon bold, that Serpent old,
that hurried Souls to Hell.
There also stand, under command,
legions of Sprites unclean.
And hellish Fiends, that are no friends
to God, nor unto Men.

Reprobates of the Left: Doom

Jul31

Michael Wigglesworth (1631—1705)

XXVI.

All stand before their Savior,
in long white Robes yclad,
Their countenance full of pleasance,
appearing wond’rous glad.
O glorious sight! Behold how bright
dust-heaps are made to shine.
Conforméd so their Lord unto,
whose Glory is Divine.

The Goats described, or the several sorts of Reprobates on the left hand

XXVII.

At Christ’s left hand the Goats do stand,
all whining Hypocrites
Who for self-ends did seem Christ’s friends,
but foster’d guileful sprites;
Who Sheep resembled, but they dissembled,
(their hearts were not sincere,)
Who once did throng Christ’s Lambs among,
but now must not come near.

XXVIII.

Apostates base and run-aways,
such as have Christ forsaken,
Of whom the Devil, with seven more evil,
hath fresh possession taken;
Sinners ingrain, reserv’d to pain,
and torments most severe,
Because ’gainst light they sinn’d with spite,
are also placed there.

XXIX.

There also stand a num’rous band,
that no profession made
Of Godliness, nor to redress
their ways at all essay’d;
Who better knew, but (sinful Crew)
Gospel and Law despiséd.
Who all Christ’s knocks withstood like blocks,
and would not be adviséd.

XXX.

Moreover, there with them appear
a number, numberless,
Of great and small, vile wretches all,
that did God’s Law transgress;
Idolaters, false worshippers,
Profaners of God’s Name,
Who not at all thereon did call,
or took in vain the same.