[ 26 ]
All stand before their Saviour
in long white Robes yclad,
Their countenance full of pleasance,
appearing wondrous glad.
O glorious sight! Behold how bright
dust heaps are made to shine,
Conformed so their Lord unto,
whose Glory is Divine.
Rev 6:11
Philip 3:21
[ 27 ]
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.
The Goats
described or the
several sorts of
Reprobates on
the left hand.
Matt 24:51
[ 28 ]
Apostates and Run-awayes,
such as have Christ forsaken,
Of whom the Devil, with seven more evil,
hath fresh possession taken:
Sinners in grain, reserv'd to pain
and torments most severe:
Because 'gainst light they sinn'd with spight,
are also placed there.
Luke 11:24, 26
Heb 6:4-6
Heb 10:29
[ 29 ]
There also stand a num'rous band,
that no Profession made
Of godliness, nor to redress
their wayes at all essay'd:
Who better knew, but (sinful Crew)
Gospel and Law despised;
Who all Christ's knocks withstood like blocks
and would not be advised.
Luke 12:47
Prov 1:24, 26
John 3:19
[ 30 ]
Moreover, there with them appear
a number, numberless
Of great and small, vile wretches all,
that did Gods Law transgress:
Idolaters, false worshippers,
Prophaners of Gods Name,
Who not at all thereon did call,
or took in vain the same.
Gal 3:10
I Cor 6:9
Rev 21:8
[ 31 ]
Blasphemers lewd, and Swearers shrewd,
Scoffers at Purity,
That hated God, contemn'd his Rod,
and lov'd Security:
Sabbath-polluters, Saints persecuters,
Presumptous men and Proud,
Who never lov'd those that reprov'd;
all stand amongst this Crowd.
Exod 20:7-8
II Thess 1:6, 8-9
[ 32 ]
Adulterers and Whoremongers
were there, with all unchast:
There Covetous, and Revenous,
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.
Heb 13:4
I Cor 6:10
[ 33 ]
Moreover, there together were
Children flagitious,
And Parents who did them undo
by Nurture vicious.
False-witness-bearers, and self-forswearers,
Murd'rers, and Men of blood,
Witches, Inchanters, and Ale-house-haunters,
beyond account there stood.
Zach 5:3-4
Gal 5:19-21
[ 34 ]
Their place there find all Heathen blind,
that Natures light abused,
Although they had no tydings glad,
of Gospel-grace refused.
There stands all Nations and Generations
of Adam's Progeny,
Whom Christ redeem'd not, who Christ esteem'd not,
through Infidelity.
Rom 2:13
[ 35 ]
Who no Peace-maker, no Undertaker,
to shrow'd them from Gods ire,
Ever obtain'd; they must be pained
with everlasting fire.
These num'rous bands, wringing their hands
and weeping, all stand there,
Filled with anguish, whose hearts do languish
through self-tormenting fear.
Acts 4:12
[ 36 ]
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 Sprights unclean,
And hellish Fiends, that are no friends
to God, nor unto Men.
I Cor 6:3
[ 37 ]
With dismal chains, and strngest 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.
Jude 6
[ 38 ]
All silence keep, both Goats and Sheep,
before the Judge's Throne;
With mild aspect to his Elect
then spake 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 pardoned.
The Saints
cleared &
justified.
[ 39 ]
'Twas meet that ye should judged 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 chearfully.
II Cor 5:10
Eccl 3:17
John 3:18
[ 40 ]
These Men be those my Father chose
before the worlds foundation,
And to me gave, that I should save
from Death and Dondemnation.
For whose dear sake I flesh did take,
was of a Woman born,
And did inure my self t'indure,
unjust reproach and scorn.
John 17:6
Eph 1:4
[ 41 ]
For them it was that I did pass
through sorrows many one:
That I drank up that bitter Cup,
which made me sigh and groan.
The Cross his pain I did sustain;
yea more, my Fathers ire
I underwent, my Blood I spent
to save them from Hell fire.
Rev 1:5
[ 42 ]
Thus I esteem'd, thus I redeem'd
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?
Eph 2:1, 3
[ 43 ]
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 chuse, or else refuse,
all men to save or spill,
May this Man chuse, and that refuse,
redeeming whom he will.
Matt 20:13, 15
Rom 9:20-21
[ 44 ]
But as for those whom I have chose
Salvations 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.
Isa 53:4-5, 11
[ 45 ]
And this my grace they did imbrace,
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 suffering losses, and bearing Crosses,
when put upon the tryal.
Acts 13:48
James 2:18
Heb 12:7
Matt 19:29
[ 46 ]