[ 76 ]
To whom the Lord thus in a word
returns a short reply,
I never knew any of you
that wrought iniquity.
You say y'have been my Presence in;
but friends, how came you there
With Raiment vile that did defile
and quite disgrace my Cheer?
Is Answered.
Luke 13:27
Matt 22:12
[ 77 ]
Durst you draw near without due fear
unto my holy Table?
Durst you prophane, and render vain
so far as you were able,
Those Mysteries? which whoso prize
and carefully improve
Shall saved be undoubtedly,
and nothing shall them move.
[ 78 ]
How durst you venture, bold guests, to enter
in such a sordid hew,
Amongst my guests, unto those Feasts
that were not made for you?
How durst you eat for spiritual meat
your bane, and drink damnation,
Whilst by your guile you rendred vile
so rare and great Salvation?
I Cor 11:27, 29
[ 79 ]
Your fancies fed on heav'nly Bread,
your hearts fed on some Lust:
You lov'd the Creature more than th' Creator,
your Souls clave to the dust.
And think you by Hypocrisie,
and cloaked Wickedness,
To enter in, laden with sin,
to lasting happiness?
Matt 6:21, 24
Rom 1:25
[ 80 ]
This your excuse shews your abuse
of things ordain'd for good;
And doth declare you guilty are
of my dear Flesh and Blood.
Wherefore those Seals and precious Meals
you put so much upon
As things divine, they seal and sign
you to Perdition.
I Cor 11:27, 29
[ 81 ]
Then forth issue another Crew
(those being silenced)
Who drawing nigh to the most High
adventure thus to plead:
We sinners were, say they, it's clear,
deserving Condemnation:
But did not we rely on thee,
O Christ, for whole Salvation?
Another sort of
hypocrites make
their pleas.
[ 82 ]
We did believe and oft receive
thy gracious promises:
We took great care to get a share
in endless happiness.
We pray'd and wept, we Fast-dayes kept,
lewd ways we did eschew:
We joyful were they Word to hear;
we form'd our lives anew.
Act 8:13
Isa 58:2-3
Heb 64:5
[ 83 ]
We thought our sin had pard'ned been;
that our Estate was good,
Our debts all paid, our peace well made,
our Souls wash'd with thy Blood.
Lord, why dost thou reject us now,
who have not thee rejected,
Nor utterly true sanctity
and holy life neglected.
II Pet 2:20
[ 85 ]
The Judge incensed at their pretenced
self-vanting Piety,
With such a look as trembling strook
into them, made reply;
O impudent, impenitent,
and guileful generation!
Think you that I cannot descry
your hearts abomination?
The Judge
uncaseth them.
John 2:24-25
[ 85 ]
You nor receiv'ed, nor yet believ'd
my Promises of Grace;
Nor were you wise enough to prize
my reconciled Face:
But did presume that to assume
which was not yours to take,
And challenged the Childrens bread,
yet would not sin forsake.
Job 6:64
Ps 50:16
Matt 15:26
[ 86 ]
Being too bold you laid fast hold,
where int'rest you had none,
Your selves deceiving by your believing,
all which you might have known,
You ran away, but ran astray,
with Gospel-promises,
And perished; being still dead
in sins and trespasses.
Rev 3:17
Matt 13:20
[ 87 ]
How oft did I Hypocrisie
and Hearts deceit unmask
Before your sight, giving you light
to know a Christians task?
But you held fast unto the last
your own Conceits so vain;
No warning could prevail, you would
your own Deceits retain.
Matt 6:2, 4, 24
Jer 8:5-8
[ 88 ]
As for your care to get a share
in bliss; the fear of Hell,
And of a part in endless smart,
did thereunto compel.
Your holiness and ways redress,
such as it was, did spring
From no true love to things above,
but from some other thing.
Ps 78:34-37
[ 89 ]
You pray'd and wept, you Fast-days kept;
but did you this to me?
No, but for sin, you sought to win,
the greater libertie.
For all your vaunts, you had vile haunts,
for which your Consciences
Did you alarm, whose voice to charm
you us'd these practices.
Zach 7:5-6
Isa 58:3-4
I Sam 15:13, 21
Isa 1:11, 15
[ 90 ]
Your Penitence, your diligence
to Read, to Pray, to Hear,
Were but to drown'd the clamorous sound
of Conscience in your ear.
If light you lov'd, vain glory mov'd
your selves therewith to store,
That seeming wise, men might you prize,
and honour you the more.
Matt 6:2, 5
John 5:44
[ 91 ]
Thus from your selves unto your selves,
your duties all do tend:
And as self-love the wheels doth move,
so in self-love they end.
Thus Christ detects their vain projects,
and close Impiety,
And plainly shews that all their shows
were but Hypocrisy.
Zech 7:5-6
Hos 10:1
[ 92 ]
Then were brought nigh a Company
of Civil honest Men,
That lov'd true dealing, and hated stealing,
ne'r wrong'd their Bretheren;
Who pleaded thus, Thou knowest us
that we were blameless livers;
No Whoremongers, no Murderers,
no quarrellers nor stivers.
Civil honest mens
pleas.
Luke 18:11
[ 93 ]
Idolatoers, Adulterers,
Church-robbers we were none,
Nor false-dealers, no couzeners,
but paid each man his own.
Our way was fair, our dealing square,
we were no wastful spenders,
No lewd toss-pots, no drunken sots,
no scandalous offenders.
[ 94 ]
We hated vice, and set great price,
by vertuous conversation:
And by the same we got a name,
and no small commendation.
Gods Laws express that righteousness,
is that which he doth prize;
And to obey, as he doth say,
is more than sacrifice.
I Sam 15:22
[ 95 ]
Thus to obey, hath been our way;
let our good deeds, we pray,
Find some regard and some reward
with thee, O Lord, this day.
And whereas we transgressors be,
of Adam's Race were none,
No not the best, but have confest
themselves to have mis-done.
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