But Nature's Light shin'd not so bright
161
But Natures Light shin'd not so bright
to teach us the right way:
We might have lov'd it, and well improv'd, it,
and yet have gone astray
The Judge most High makes this Reply,
you ignorance pretend,
Dimness of sight, and want of light
your course Heav'nward to bend.
162
How came your mind to be so blind?
I once you knowledge gave,
Clearness of sight, and judgment right;
who did the same deprave?
If to your cost you have it lost,
and quite defac'd the same;
Your own desert hath caus'd the smart,
you ought not me to blame.
163
Your selves into a pit of woe,
your own transgression led:
If I to none my Grace had shown,
who had been injured?
If to a few, and not to you,
I shew'd a way of life,
My Grace to free, you clearly see,
gives you no ground of strife.
164
'Tis vain to tell; you wot full well,
if you in time had known
Your Misery and Remedy,
your actions had it shown
Your, sinful Crew, have not been true
unto the Light of Nature,
Nor done the good you understood,
nor owned your Creator.
165
He that the Light, because 'tis Light,
hath used to despize,
Would not the Light shining more bright,
be likely for to prize.
If you had lov'd, and well improv'd
your knowledge and dim sight,
Herein your pain had not been vain,
your plagues had been more light.
166
Then to the Bar, all they drew near
who dy'd in Infancy,
And never had or good or bad
effected pers'nally,
But from the womb unto the tomb
were straightway carried,
(Or at the last e're they transgrest)
who thus began to plead:
167
If for our own transgression,
or disobedience,
We here did stand at thy left-hand
just were the Recompence:
But Adam's guilt our souls hath spilt,
his fault is charg'd on us;
And that alone hath overthrown,
and utterly undone us.
168
Not we, but he, ate of the Tree,
whose fruit was interdicted:
Yet on us all of his sad Fall,
the punishment's inflicted.
How could we sin that had not been,
or how is his sin our,
Without consent, which to prevent,
we never had a pow'r?
169
O great Creator, why was our Nature
depraved and forlorn?
Why so defil'd, and made so vild
whilst we were yet unborn?
If it be just, and needs we must
transgressors reck'ned be,
Thy Mercy, Lord, to us afford,
which sinners hath set free.
170
Behold we see Adam set free,
and sav'd from his trespass,
Whose sinful Fall hath split us all,
and brought us to this pass
Canst thou deny us once to try,
or Grace to us to tender,
When he finds grace before thy face,
that was the chief offender?
But Natures Light shin'd not so bright
to teach us the right way:
We might have lov'd it, and well improv'd, it,
and yet have gone astray
The Judge most High makes this Reply,
you ignorance pretend,
Dimness of sight, and want of light
your course Heav'nward to bend.
162
How came your mind to be so blind?
I once you knowledge gave,
Clearness of sight, and judgment right;
who did the same deprave?
If to your cost you have it lost,
and quite defac'd the same;
Your own desert hath caus'd the smart,
you ought not me to blame.
163
Your selves into a pit of woe,
your own transgression led:
If I to none my Grace had shown,
who had been injured?
If to a few, and not to you,
I shew'd a way of life,
My Grace to free, you clearly see,
gives you no ground of strife.
164
'Tis vain to tell; you wot full well,
if you in time had known
Your Misery and Remedy,
your actions had it shown
Your, sinful Crew, have not been true
unto the Light of Nature,
Nor done the good you understood,
nor owned your Creator.
165
He that the Light, because 'tis Light,
hath used to despize,
Would not the Light shining more bright,
be likely for to prize.
If you had lov'd, and well improv'd
your knowledge and dim sight,
Herein your pain had not been vain,
your plagues had been more light.
166
Then to the Bar, all they drew near
who dy'd in Infancy,
And never had or good or bad
effected pers'nally,
But from the womb unto the tomb
were straightway carried,
(Or at the last e're they transgrest)
who thus began to plead:
167
If for our own transgression,
or disobedience,
We here did stand at thy left-hand
just were the Recompence:
But Adam's guilt our souls hath spilt,
his fault is charg'd on us;
And that alone hath overthrown,
and utterly undone us.
168
Not we, but he, ate of the Tree,
whose fruit was interdicted:
Yet on us all of his sad Fall,
the punishment's inflicted.
How could we sin that had not been,
or how is his sin our,
Without consent, which to prevent,
we never had a pow'r?
169
O great Creator, why was our Nature
depraved and forlorn?
Why so defil'd, and made so vild
whilst we were yet unborn?
If it be just, and needs we must
transgressors reck'ned be,
Thy Mercy, Lord, to us afford,
which sinners hath set free.
170
Behold we see Adam set free,
and sav'd from his trespass,
Whose sinful Fall hath split us all,
and brought us to this pass
Canst thou deny us once to try,
or Grace to us to tender,
When he finds grace before thy face,
that was the chief offender?
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