141
It doth agree with equity,
and with Gods holy Law,
That those should dye eternally
that death upon them draw.
The Soul that sins damnation wins,
for so the Law ordains;
Which Law is just, and therefore must
such suffer endless pain.
142
Eternal smart is the desert,
ev'n of the least offence;
Then wonder not if I allot
to you this Recompence:
But wonder more, that since so sore
and lasting plagues are due
To every sin, you liv'd therein,
who well the danger knew.
143
God hath no joy to crush or 'stroy,
and ruine wretched wights,
But to display the glorious Ray
of Justice he delights
To manifest he doth detest,
and throughly hate all sin,
By plaguing it as is most fit,
this shall him glory win.
144
Then at the Bar arraigned are
an impudenter sort,
Who to evade the guilt that's laid
upon them, thus retort;
Who could we cease thus to transgress?
how could we Hell avoid,
Whom Gods Decree shut out from thee,
and sign'd to be destroy'd?
145
Whom God ordains to endless pains,
by Law unalterable,
Repentance true, Obedience new,
to save such are unable:
Sorrow for sin, no good can win,
to such as are rejected;
Ne can they grieve, nor yet believe,
that never were elected.
146
Of Man's fall'n Race, who can true Grace,
or Holiness obtain?
Who can convert or change his heart,
if God withhold the same?
Had we apply'd our selves, and try'd
as much as who did most
God's love to gain, our busie pain
and labour had been lost.
147
Christ readily makes this Reply,
I damn you not because
You are rejected, or not elected,
but you have broke my Laws:
It is but vain your wits to strain,
the end and means to sever:
Men fondly seek to part or break
what God hath link'd together.
148
Whom God will save, such he will have,
the means of life to use:
Whom he'll pass by, shall chuse to dy,
and ways of life refuse.
He that fore-sees, and foredecrees,
in wisdom order'd has,
That man's free-will electing ill,
shall bring his will to pass.
149
High God's Decree, as it is free,
so doth it none compel
Against their will to good or ill,
it forceth none to Hell.
They have their wish whose Souls perish
with Torments in Hell-fire,
Who rather chose their Souls to lose,
than leave a loose desire.
150
God did ordain sinners to pain
and I to Hell send none,
But such as swerv'd, and have deserv'd
destruction as their own
His pleasure is, that none from bliss
and endless happiness
Be barr'd, but such as wrong'd him much
by wilful wickedness.
It doth agree with equity,
and with Gods holy Law,
That those should dye eternally
that death upon them draw.
The Soul that sins damnation wins,
for so the Law ordains;
Which Law is just, and therefore must
such suffer endless pain.
142
Eternal smart is the desert,
ev'n of the least offence;
Then wonder not if I allot
to you this Recompence:
But wonder more, that since so sore
and lasting plagues are due
To every sin, you liv'd therein,
who well the danger knew.
143
God hath no joy to crush or 'stroy,
and ruine wretched wights,
But to display the glorious Ray
of Justice he delights
To manifest he doth detest,
and throughly hate all sin,
By plaguing it as is most fit,
this shall him glory win.
144
Then at the Bar arraigned are
an impudenter sort,
Who to evade the guilt that's laid
upon them, thus retort;
Who could we cease thus to transgress?
how could we Hell avoid,
Whom Gods Decree shut out from thee,
and sign'd to be destroy'd?
145
Whom God ordains to endless pains,
by Law unalterable,
Repentance true, Obedience new,
to save such are unable:
Sorrow for sin, no good can win,
to such as are rejected;
Ne can they grieve, nor yet believe,
that never were elected.
146
Of Man's fall'n Race, who can true Grace,
or Holiness obtain?
Who can convert or change his heart,
if God withhold the same?
Had we apply'd our selves, and try'd
as much as who did most
God's love to gain, our busie pain
and labour had been lost.
147
Christ readily makes this Reply,
I damn you not because
You are rejected, or not elected,
but you have broke my Laws:
It is but vain your wits to strain,
the end and means to sever:
Men fondly seek to part or break
what God hath link'd together.
148
Whom God will save, such he will have,
the means of life to use:
Whom he'll pass by, shall chuse to dy,
and ways of life refuse.
He that fore-sees, and foredecrees,
in wisdom order'd has,
That man's free-will electing ill,
shall bring his will to pass.
149
High God's Decree, as it is free,
so doth it none compel
Against their will to good or ill,
it forceth none to Hell.
They have their wish whose Souls perish
with Torments in Hell-fire,
Who rather chose their Souls to lose,
than leave a loose desire.
150
God did ordain sinners to pain
and I to Hell send none,
But such as swerv'd, and have deserv'd
destruction as their own
His pleasure is, that none from bliss
and endless happiness
Be barr'd, but such as wrong'd him much
by wilful wickedness.