Classic Poem

Whom having brought, as they are taught,
unto the brink of Hell
(That dismal place far from Christ's face,
where Death and Darkness dwell:
Where Gods fierce Ire kindleth the fire,
and vengeance feeds the flame
With piles of Wood, and Brimstone Flood,
that none can quench the same,)

209

With Iron bands they bind their hands,
and cursed feet together,
And cast them all, both great and small,
into that Lake for ever.
Where day and night, without respite,
they wail, and cry, and howl.
For tort'ring pain, which they sustain
in Body and in Soul.

210

For day and night, in their despight,
their torments smoak ascendeth.
Their pain and grief have no relief,
their anguish never endeth
There must they ly, and never dy,
though dying every day:
There must they dying every ly,
and not consume away.

211

Dy fain they would, if dy they could,
but Death will not be had.
God's direful wrath their bodies hath
for ev'r Immortal made.
They live to ly in misery,
and bear eternal wo;
And live they must whilst God is just,
that he may plague them so.

212

But who can tell the plagues of Hell,
and torments exquisite?
Who can relate their dismal state,
and terrours infinite?
Who fare the best, and feel the least,
yet feel that punishment
Whereby to nought they should be brought,
if God did not prevent.

213

The least degree of miserie
there felt's incomparable,
The lightest pain they there sustain
more than intolerable
But God's great pow'r from hour to hour
upholds them in the fire,
That they shall not consume a jot,
nor by it's force expire.

214

But ah, the wo they undergo
(they more than all besides)
Who had the light, and knew the right,
yet would not it abide.
The sev'n-fold smart, which to their part,
and portion doth fall,
Who Christ his Grace would not imbrace,
nor hearken to his call.

215

The Amorites and Sodomites
although their plagues be sore,
Yet find some ease, compar'd to these,
who feel a great deal more
Almighty God, whose Iron Rod,
to smite them never lins,
Doth most declare his Justice rare
in plaguing these mens sins.

216

The pain of loss their Souls doth toss,
and wond'rously distress,
To think what they have cast away
by wilful wickedness
We might have been redeem'd from sin
think they, and liv'd above,
Being possest of heav'nly rest,
and joying in God's love.

217

But wo, wo, wo our Souls into!
we would not nappy be;
And therefore bear Gods Vengeance here
to all Eternitee.
Experience and woful sense
must be our painful teachers
Who n'ould believe, nor credit give,
unto our faithful Preachers.

218

Thus shall they ly, and wail, and cry,
tormented, and tormenting
Their galled hearts with pois'ned darts
but now too late repenting.
There let them dwell i'th' Flames of Hell:
there leave we them to burn,
And back agen unto the men
whom Christ acquits, return.

219

The Saints behold with courage bold,
and thankful wonderment,
To see all those that were their foes
thus sent to punishment:
Then do they sing unto their King
a Song of endless Praise:
They praise his Name, and do proclaim
that just are all his ways.

220

Thus with great joy and melody
to Heav'n they all ascend,
Him there to praise with sweetest layes,
and Hymns that never end:
Where with long Rest they shall be blest,
and nought shall them annoy:
Where they shall see as seen they be,
and whom they love enjoy.

221

O glorious Place! where face to face
Jehovah may be seen,
By such as were sinners whilere
and no dark vail between
Where the Sun shine, and light Divine,
of Gods bright Countenance,
Doth rest upon them every one,
with sweetest influence.

222

O blessed state of the Penate!
O wondrous Happiness,
To which they're brought, beyond what thought
can reach, or words express!
Griefs water-course, and sorrows sourse,
are turn'd to joyful streams
Their old distress and heaviness
are vanished like dreams.

223

For God above in arms of love
doth dearly them embrace,
And fills their sprights with such delights,
and pleasures in his grace;
As shall not fail, nor yet grow stale
through frequency of use:
Nor do they fear Gods favour there,
to forfeit by abuse.

224

For there the Saints are perfect Saints,
and holy ones indeed,
From all the sin that dwelt within
their mortal bodies freed:
Made Kings and Priests to God through Christs
dear loves transcendency,
There to remain, and there to reign
with him Eternally.