The Glorious Lover, Book 1 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Shewing how Theologue, the Prince's Spokeſman, indeavour'd to obtain the love of this poor Creature for his bleſſed Maſter, by whom the aggravation of the Creatures ſin and miſery is layed open; the Soul is in debt ten thouſand Talents, worſe than nothing. Moreover, ſhewing how the Creature was guilty of high Treaſon againſt the Soveraign Lord Jehovah; is alſo Arraigned and condemned to be burned alive. A Dialogue or diſcourſe between the Divine Attributes: Juſtice cryes for Execution, to have the fatal blow ſtruck; Mercy ſteps in. Juſtice muſt be ſatisfied. Goodneſs and Mercy will not loſe their Glory, being alike eſteemed by God. Divine Wiſdom reconciles all the other Attributes, and makes them meet together in a ſweet harmony: the Soul being condemned to die, the Prince ſees no other way to obtain her for his own, but by ſatisfying Juſtice, and becoming Surety, and yielding himſelf up to die for her.
Theologue.
HOW is it Soul! art minded yet to leave
Thy Luſts, and Lovers, and to Jeſus cleave?
Doſt not perceive the ſad ſtate thou art in
By curs'd Apollyon, and his off-ſpring, SIN?
Wilt thou for evermore thy ſelf deſtroy,
And not accept of Health? wilt not enjoy
One who in value doth all Worlds excel?
Wilt thou refuſe in Paradiſe to dwell?
Doſt ſee thy ſtate, thy bloody ſtate? oh ſpeak!
My bleeding heart for thee doth greatly ake.
Soul.
You had my Anſwer plain enough before:
Forbear, I pray, and trouble me no more.
I do 'nt believe what you have ſaid is true;
Such pains I never felt, nor ſickneſs knew:
But if my ſtate were worſe than yet I ſee,
I will not have you thus to trouble me.
I have all things which naturally delights me,
And from them you ſhall not deter, nor fright me;
You know the Proverb uſed in our Land,
Each Tub ſhall upon its own Bottom ſtand.
Theologue.
Soul, b'not ſo raſh, be more conſiderate;
Ponder on things before it be too late.
Sith what I ſaid before no good can do,
More of thy wretchedneſs I now will ſhow;
And if that fails, then afterwards I'le leave thee,
And o're into the hands of Juſtice give thee.
Firſt, from God's Word I have Authority
To lay before thee thy great poverty.
Thy Soveraign Lord moſt highly is diſtaſted
For all the precious Treaſure thou haſt waſted.
Firſt, of his Glory thou haſt him bereav'd,
And to rebel againſt him been deceiv'd.
Next, thy whole ſelf to him 'tis thou doſt owe,
Yea, all thou either art, haſt, or canſt do,
Which thou haſt not regarded hitherto:
But to thy ſelf, and not to him doſt live,
Who did thy ſelf at firſt unto thee give,
And from whom thou doſt ev'ry thing receive.
Thy knowledg, judgment, and thy memory,
Th' excellent nature of each Faculty,
Should all have to, and for him, been laid out,
As being all his Goods; Soul! look about,
For time, for Health, and for the day of Grace;
Thou muſt be brought before the Judge's Face:
And for thy Riches, and all things thou haſt,
Which thou Imbezel'ſt, and doſt vainly waſt,
A ſtrict Account muſt at the Bar of Heaven
By thee in a ſhort time be ſurely given.
Ten Thouſand Talents doth thy God demand;
Which thou canſt neither pay, nor yet withſtand
His dire proceedings, 'cauſe he is moſt Juſt,
And thou but ſinful Aſhes and vile Duſt.
Thou wilt be ſeiz'd, and in a Priſon laid,
Till the laſt Mite be ſatisfi'd and paid.
Canſt thou, poor Soul! doſt think quit the old ſcore,
When thou contractſt new debts ſtill more & more?
Would not a Friend that's able to defray
All thy vaſt Debts, and a full Ranſom pay
To thy juſt Creditor, moſt welcom be,
If ſuch an one could be found out for thee?
But things yet worſe, I fear, there are behind,
The truth of which moſt certainly thoul't find.
Hark, trembling Soul! thou to the Bar art cited,
And for high Treaſon there doſt ſtand Indicted,
Committed by thee 'twas in antient time,
When thou didſt dwell in Eden, in thy prime:
When thou hadſt flouriſht there but a ſhort ſeaſon,
Thou didſt contract that guilt of horrid Treaſon
Againſt thy Soveraign, in whoſe Princely Eye
Was Grace and favour mixt with Majeſty:
Gracious to pardon many great Offences,
And yet ſevere to puniſh Inſolences.
But thou both Grace and Juſtice didſt deſpiſe,
And in thy Heart didſt evil things ſurmiſe
Againſt thy Soveraign Lord, and ſecretly
Join'ſt with his Foes in cloſe Conſpiracy.
'Twas with the King of Darkneſs thou didſt cloſe,
Obeyd'ſt his will, and didſt thy God oppoſe.
A dreadful Sentence then againſt thee paſt,
Which ne're by humane Art could be reverſt.
Thy Sentence was in Priſon long to lie,
And for thy fact at laſt Condemn'd to die.
And Death on thee did ſeize the ſelf-ſame time,
When thou commitſt that high and fearful Crime;
The ſad effects of it I this Day ſee,
Thou ſtill ly'ſt dead in thine Iniquity.
Ah! I may preach untill my heart doth ake,
And it on thee will no Impreſſion make.
Thou art depriv'd of Life and Light of God,
And long haſt thou in this eſtate abode.
But a worſe Death doth in thy Sentence lie,
(Though very few on it will caſt an Eye)
Condemn'd to ſuffer everlaſting pains,
And on thee then were faſtned heavy Chains.
And though thy Execution be delay'd,
Yet 'tis by means of Jeſus only ſtay'd.
His precious Grace preſerves thee from that fire,
Whoſe torments once begun, ſhall ne'r expire.
That Soul-amazing Sentence who can bear
The thoughts of it, and not let fall a tear?
What Malefactors are Condemn'd to die,
But on the ſenſe of Death's approaching nigh,
Contracts not horrour on thier Souls thereby?
What then to ſuffer Death for evermore,
Where Torments ne…re abate, nor will be o're?
To be a thouſand tedious Ages Rackt,
Not Dead, yet always in the dying Act.
A fiery Furnace with a ſevenfold heat
We read of, yet its flames were not ſo great,
But that they ſoon would languiſh and grow cold;
Whereas theſe Tortures, ſtill increaſing, hold.
If e're thou ſhouldſt be caſt into that place,
Before thou doſt take hold of Love and Grace,
There's this will then thy ſorrows aggravate,
None will thee pity in that wretched ſtate.
Never was Malefactor in diſtreſs,
But met with pity either more or leſs;
And though it do not take away the grief,
Yet where there's pity, there's ſome ſmall Relief.
But if thou doſt this fearful Sentence bear,
There's none to pity, none to ſhed a tear.
O think of this, alas! thy wretched Eyes
Are blinded now, thou baſely doſt deſpiſe
The beſt of Comfort, Joy and Conſolation,
For love to Sin, horrid Abomination!
Thou ſwell'ſt in pride, unmindful of thine end,
And ſeeſt no need of comfort from a Friend:
But what wouldſt thou for ſuch a Friend then give,
And for thoſe Comforts thou mayſt now receive?
Doſt not thou tremble at this frightful news?
Tremble at leaſt at that which next enſues.
Three things there are, three Circumſtances great,
Which much thy final woe will aggravate:
Which ſeverally unto thee I'le relate,
That thou mayſt think upon thy future ſtate.
Firſt, from thy high Deſcent thy birth did crown
Thee with the greateſt Honour and Renown,
That ever any had upon the Earth,
Thou being own'd a Soveraign Queen by Birth.
Yet that which did ſo much advance thy fame,
Was not alone the Honour of thy Name,
As the rare properties of thy ſweet Nature,
A moſt tranſcendent and accompliſht Creature;
An Heav'n-compoſed frame, as if thou'dſt bin
Deriv'd from ſome Celeſtial Seraphim.
When great Jehovah's fruitful Word had made
The whole Creation, touching thee, he ſaid,
This Creature ſhall alone our Image bear,
Whom all things elſe ſhall reverence and fear;
Our Sacred Portraiture we ſolely place,
In this ſweet Creatures Heaven-erected face.
And when he ſent his firſt begotten down,
No other form or Image muſt he own.
The Angels Nature wholly he refuſes,
And rather Humane Soul and fleſh he chuſes.
Alas! there's not a greater aggravation,
Than for a perſon of the higheſt ſtation
To be thrown down into the deep'ſt Abyſs
Of woe and ſorrow! oh! how ſad is this?
Thy ſelf caus'd change a miſerable Creature,
Will ſurely make thy Torments far the greater.
The ſecond Circumſtance of Aggravation,
Is worthy of thy ſerious obſervation.
And that I may more fully make it known,
Under two Heads I'le briefly lay it down.
Firſt, from the timely notice that was given,
By thy moſt Soveraign Lord, the King of Heaven,
When with his glorious Image he had grac'd thee,
And in fair Eden's fruitful Garden plac…d thee;
Ordain'd thee Miſtreſs of that famous Bower,
Where thou mightſt ſee his Glory every hour;
Granting whatever might accommodate
Thy pure perfect ſpotleſs Virgin ſtate;
Excepting one reſerved Fruit alone,
Which did indeed of Right belong to none
But to himſelf; that hidden Myſterie,
Which in the midſt of Paradiſe did lie;
To know what Evil was as well as Good,
Which never could by men been underſtood,
But by an Art of the moſt horrid Evil,
And hearkning to, and ſiding with the Devil;
The dire effects to thee were told moſt plain,
The danger and the loſs thou ſhouldſt ſuſtain;
The loſs of Life, the loſs of Eden's Glory,
The loſs of God; a lamentable Story.
Warning was giv'n, God ſtrictly did require,
On pain of Death, thou ſhouldſt not once deſire,
Nor taſt, nor touch, nor caſt a longing Eye
Upon this fatal Fruit, which certainly
Would ſtraight procure thy final overthrow:
This timely notice ſhall augment thy Woe.
Fore-warn'd, fore-arm'd, you know we uſe to ſay:
Thou waſt fore-warn'd, and yet didſt go aſtray.
Contemptuous Soul! alas, how couldſt thou think
The mighty God would at Rebellion wink?
Though he is ſaid to wink at Ignorance,
Preſumption is a different Circumſtance.
Thou knew'ſt before-hand if thou didſt trangreſs,
Aſſured Death would follow, and no leſs;
The Lord had ſaid it, he that gave us breath,
Said, thou ſhouldst die, & yet thou feardſt not Death,
This is the height, as well as ſpring of Evil,
To doubt and miſtruſt God, yet truſt the Devil.
Againſt God's ſacred Truth to ſhut ones Eyes,
And credit blindfold th' Father of all Lies.
Ah Soul! 'twas liſtning to a wanton luſt,
That was the cauſe thou didſt at firſt diſtruſt
The glorious Lord, and falſely to ſurmiſe,
He was unwilling that thou ſhouldſt be wiſe;
Afraid that thou ſhouldſt know as much as He,
And grow a Rival to his Deity.
This blaſphemous Conceit the Devil firſt,
In thine already wicked fancy nurſt:
" 'Tis (ſaith this Prince of Darkneſs) God's inten
" In this unjuſt Reſtraint, but to prevent
" Thy being like himſelf: for he doth know
" If once thou taſte this Fruit, it will be ſo.
" Do thou but try, and taſte, and preſentlie
" Thou'lt find thy dim, dark Eye ſhall open'd be.
" This hidden Secret will be underſtood,
" And thou…t know Evil, as thou now know… Good
" You ſhall become as Gods: and I pray when
" 'Tis ſo, what fear you? who can puniſh then?
" Your wiſdom may the threatned Death evade,
" And with an equal pow'r Heav'ns pow'r upbraid.
Thus ſpake the Tempter, and thou ſtraight didſt yield,
And treacherouſly to him didſt quit the field.
Forthwith the fatal Fruit with impious hand,
Thou pluckſt, and eatſt, againſt thy God's command,
Branding thy ſelf, and thy poſterity,
With Treaſons Guilt and endleſs miſery.
And here, vile Soul! I cannot chuſe but tell
Thee one thing more that will increaſe thy Hell,
The Devil had no power to compell
Thee to have taſted this his poiſonous Feaſt,
But wilfully thou haſt God's Law tranſgreſt:
For though thou hadſt a pow'rful Sword to weild,
Tempted to Luſt, thou cowardly didſt yield:
Thou to thy ſelf doſt thy deſtruction owe,
And this doth greatly aggravate thy woe.
If want of ſtrength or weapons, if oppreſſion
Do force a Man to give up his poſſeſſion,
He is excus'd, and his unhappy fall
Condol'd, lamented, and bewail'd of all.
But he deſerveth neither love nor pity,
That unconſtrain'd ſurrenders up a City;
When he has pow'r to make ſtrong oppoſition,
Furniſht with Arms and warlike Ammunition,
Yet at one ſlender Summons yields his Fort;
The mis'ries he ſuſtains in ſuch a ſort,
Reflect upon himſelf, and do redouble
His conſcious Anguiſh, ſelf-accuſing Trouble.
Juſt as the Southern Sun with burning beams,
Reflecting from a Wall with fierce extreams,
Above its natural ſtrength or wonted courſe,
Scorches and burns with a far greater force:
So do thoſe Flames, firſt kindled with deſire,
Grow dangerous, and prove the ſtronger fire.
The wounds receiv'd from ſelf-confounding Arms,
Have ever done poor Souls the greateſt harms.
There's yet another Circumſtance behind,
That aggravates thy ſmart, which, prethee mind.
When once thy fearful Torments are begun,
Thy fatal Glaſs will never ceaſe to run;
Years fill'd with months, and months with weeks retire,
Weeks fill'd with days, & days with hours expire;
And hours in nimble minutes ſwiftly fly
Unto their End. But in Eternity
There is no End, nor will thy woes diminiſh,
Although years, moneths, weeks, and hours finish.
The toilſome Day when once it does expire,
All Creature here to pleaſing reſt retire,
Slaves, Bondmen, Priſoners, Captives, all have eaſe,
No Drudgery ſo great, but then doth ceaſe,
Each buſtling Day ends in a Night of peace.
But thou muſt look to be with pains oppreſt,
Where mid-day torments find no night of Reſt.
Death puts a period to the greateſt grief,
I'th ſilent Grave the weary find relief:
But wiſh't-for Death from thee ſhall fly away,
Eternity's a never-ending Day.
Where th' angry mouth of Juſtice loud doth cry,
Here muſt thou ever, ever, ever lie.
How miſerable! ah how ſad's thine end!
When thou in vain ſhalt court Death for thy friend.
Men now do fly from Death, whilſt Death purſues,
But then ſhall ſeek to Death, who will refuſe
At their Requeſt ſuch favour to afford,
As frees them from that Breath giv'n by the Lord.
Death knows no pity: Nay, obſerve it well,
…Tis Death that opens wide the Gates of Hell,
Where thou muſt be tormented with the Devils,
As the juſt puniſhment of all thy evils.
Diſtreſſed Soul! oh unto what ſhall I
Compare thy caſeleſs, endleſs miſery!
In various Volumes of the World's Records,
Strange Tortures we may find expreſt by words,
But Oh! so great, ſo fore is thy diſtreſs,
As fleſh can't bear't, ſo words can't it expreſs.
Devils rejoyce, and welcom in the Day
That crown'd their Conqueſts with ſo rich a prey;
To ſee thee thus quite buried in thy ſpoils,
Bereſt of Earthly joys, and Heav'nly ſmiles;
And I do fear th' incenſed God above
With direful Wrath will quickly thee remove
Into that place—,But hark! methinks I hear
Some dreadful noiſe—ſee how the Mountains tear,
And rending Hills, do into pieces fly,
Whilſt Thunder bellows through the troubled sky:
The Stars and Planets in confuſion hurl'd,
Have baniſht Natures order from the World.
See how the melting Orbs of Heaven ſweat,
Like Parchment parch'd, & ſhrivel'd up with heat,
Swift Lightning flaſhes through the Air appear,
And now, O hark! the dreadful Trump I hear,
It ſounds exceeding loud, enough to make
The Dead from their deep ſilent Graves awake,
And ſtouteſt Sinners ſtubborn hearts to quake.
Ah! 'tis Mount Sinai, God himſelf is come
Now to convince thee of thy final Doom.
The Law and Juſtice will thee now Arraign:
Poor Soul! for thee my Soul's in bitter pain.
From them be ſure no Mercy thou wilt meet,
Although thou ſhouldſt turn Suppli'nt at their feet.
Their method is ſo rigid, ſo ſevere,
The Guilty by no means they ever ſpare.
Awake, awake, poor Soul! and look about,
Jehovah doth command the Sinner out,
And active Juſtice having ſeiz'd her faſt
Doth hale her to the Judgment-ſeat in hast.
Juſtice.
Moſt Soveraign Lord! who dares i'th leaſt gainſay
What thou commandſt? thy Word I muſt obey.
Lo! here I bring this wretched Priſoner forth
Unto thy Bar, who mad'ſt both Heaven and Earth,
See! with what dread the trembling wretch doth ſtand,
To know thy Sacred Pleaſure & Command.
Jehovah.
Juſtice, What is her Fact? her Crimes declare:
I patiently will now the matter hear.
Juſtice.
Then will I legally, my Lord, proceed,
And preſently her black Indictment reade.
Come forth thou Conſcious wretch, and hear thy Crimes,
In wicked deeds thou didſt begin betimes.
By th' name of Soul, thou ſtandſt indicted here,
Being without true Grace and godly fear,
Moſt treacherouſly in Eden long ago,
Didſt then and there, with God's moſt horrid Foe,
Conſpire againſt his Soveraign Majeſty,
To the dethroning of him privily;
Then ſetſt thou up a Traitor in his place,
And traiterouſly his Image didſt deface,
And ever ſince haſt in Rebellion ſtood,
Purſuing Evil, and forſaking Good.
For Treaſon, Murder, Theft, thou ſtandſt Indicted:
Theſe Crimes were all in thy firſt fact united.
Nay, more then this, yet worſer is thy Cauſe,
Thou art Arraign'd for breach of all thoſe Laws,
Which in thy Nature God at firſt ingrav'd,
The ſame thou haſt in every point deprav'd.
This Royal Law much haſt thou violated,
And every Day thy Crimes are aggravated.
That Spirit's ſtill in thee which was at firſt,
When God did thee out of his Garden thruſt;
Thou ſid'ſt with Satan, and doſt him obey,
Not minding what, or God, or good men ſay.
All Evil Rebels in thy Houſe remain,
And nobly there thou doſt them entertain,
Whilſt God thou hat'ſt, his proffer'd Love refuſe,
And precious Patience daily doſt abuſe.
Therefore, my Lord! ſhe worthy is of Death,
As ever any that on Earth drew Breath.
Jehovah.
Soul! What doſt ſay, hold up thy guilty head,
Thou unto this Indictment now muſt plead:
Guilty, or not Guilty, I charge thee, ſpeak;
Leſt Juſtice doth ſeverer Courſes take.
Soul.
I dare not ſay I am not Guilty, Lord,
Of ſome of theſe foul Crimes which I have heard
Read in my Charge, 'tis vain for to deny,
My Conſcience makes me Guilty, Guilty, cry.
Thy Law is broke, which doth all Luſt forbid,
My Sin I know from thee cannot be hid.
Although methinks Juſtice ſeems too ſevere,
For the whole Charge hee'l ſcarcely make appear.
Jehovah.
Art guilty of that firſt and hainous Crime,
Which was committed, Soul, in Ancient time,
By him who was thy Repreſentative,
From whom thy evil Nature didſt derive?
If guilty of that one horrid Offence,
'Tis eaſie for thee to perceive from thence
Thou art under my Juſt and fearful Curſe,
Condemned by thy God, what can be worſe?
Soul.
To Adam's Sin, Lord, I muſt guilty plead;
Nay, and to many an actual Evil Deed.
Divine Juſtice.
The Priſoner does confeſs her vile offence,
And now there needs no further Evidence.
Shall Execution, Lord, on her be done?
How canſt thou bear ſuch a Rebellious one?
Lord, let me ſtraightway ſtrike the fatal blow,
Let her with vengeance to Hell-torments go.
She's guilty, even by her own Confeſſion,
Of heaping up Tranſgreſſion on Tranſgreſſion.
She's in my Debt, ſhe cannot it diſown,
And I demand my Right, Come, pay it down.
Ten thouſand Talents; Soul, thou oweſt me,
Which muſt be paid, and that full ſpeedily.
Soul.
That I am in thy Debt I don't gainſay,
But I have not one farthing now to pay.
Some pity ſhow, I for forbearance cry,
Since thy Demands I cannot ſatisfy.
Juſtice.
Full ſatisfaction 'tis that I muſt have,
In vain from me you compoſitions crave;
My Name is Juſtice, and my Nature ſo,
I never did, nor can I mercy ſhow.
Soul.
If there's no mercy, then my ſtate is ſad,
And never was there any News ſo bad
For Adam's ſeed, who under Sin do lie,
All then muſt periſh to Eternity.
Theologue.
That God is gracious, Soul, is not deny'd,
Yet Juſtice will alſo be ſatisfy'd.
Conſider if thou canſt the matter reach;
One Attribute God never will impeach
To magnify another; He's ſo Juſt,
As to take vengeance on each Sin and Luſt;
Each Attribute know thou aſſuredly
Muſt meet together in ſweet Harmony.
Soul.
What will thy Wrath, O Juſtice! then appeaſe?
Upon what terms wilt thou afford ſome eaſe
To me, after this terrifying News?
Vouchſafe to tell the means that I muſt uſe,
To ſatisfie a Judge that's ſo ſevere,
And will not of ſweet Acts of pardon hear.
Juſtice.
There's nothing can appeaſe me, that is leſs
Than a compleat and perfect Righteouſneſs;
Like that thou hadſt whilſt thou in Eden ſtood:
Nothing, ſave this, will do thee any good.
What e're is due to me of the old ſcore,
Muſt be paid down, or never any more
Will the great God with thee concerned be
On gracious terms of Peace and Amitie;
A Sacrifice can only make thy peace,
That, that alone, will cauſe my wrath to ceaſe.
Soul.
If that be all, I'le get a Sacrifice;
Let me conſider, what ſhall I deviſe?
A thouſand Rams, and Rivers of ſweet Oil,
I'le offer up but for one gracious Smile;
With fat of firſtling Lambs I'le Heaven invoke,
And pureſt Incenſe up like Clouds ſhall ſmoke;
Each Morn I…le ſacrifice whole Hecatombs,
With Frankincenſe, and ſweet Arabian Gums.
I theſe, O Lord! I offer up to thee;
M… they atone for mine Iniquity?
Juſtice.
Oh no! give o're thoſe trifling low deſigns;
The Eaſtern Spices and the Weſtern mines
United, are too mean an Offering
To ſatisfy this great incenſed King.
In ſuch poor offerings God does take no pleaſure;
Couldſt Thou therefore procure all Europes Treaſure;
Nay, all the Wealth that in the World has bin,
'Tould not his wrath appeaſe for one ſmall ſin.
Shouldſt thou thy deareſt Son or Daughter take
For Sacrifice, 'twould no Atonement make:
The fruit of thine own Body were in vain
For thy Soul's ſin a pardon to obtain.
No Friend or Brother can'ſt thou now find out
To pay thy Ranſom, or releaſe thee out▪
Their Riches never can be help for thee,
Nor once redeem thy Soul from miſery.
Nay, couldſt thou yet aſcend to Heaven above,
And holy Angels with compaſſion move
For to engage for thee, and ſignify
That in thy ſtead, and for thy ſake they'd die,
It would not do; for in them's no ſuch worth
As to remove thy guilt, appeaſe God's wrath.
Their Glory's great, as holy Scriptures ſhow;
Yet all they have and are to God they owe.
They cannot help thee in thy great diſtreſs,
Nor ſatisfy the Law thou doſt tranſgreſs.
In brief, look where thou wilt; no Balſam's fou…
In any Creature for to cure thy wound.
No Surety can'ſt thou get; then come away,
Eternal Torments muſt thy Reckoning pay.
Soul.
Hold, hold, thou art too haſty and ſevere,
To one word more I pray thee lend an Ear.
I will amend my life, if this be ſo.
The Promiſe runs to ſuch as truly do
Their Evil courſes leave; I hope hereby
Thou wilt ſome pity ſhow, not let me die.
Divine Juſtice.
…ond Soul! though ſuch thy promiſes indeed
So often broke, deſerve but little heed;
Yet grant thou ſhouldſt henceforth with ſtricteſt care
Endeavour thine offences to repair,
Couldſt thou ſo live, as never to ſin more,
Will this, doſt think, pay off thy former ſcore?
Can thine imperfect Righteouſneſs to come,
Diſcharge of by-paſt ills, ſo vaſt a ſum?
When even that which thou callſt Righteouſneſs
It ſelf wants pardon, and muſt Guilt confeſs.
When thy Bond's ſu'd, thou doſt thy ſelf forget,
To offer menſtruous Rags to pay thy Debt;
For what is paſt, not future, I demand,
And thou ſhalt feel the rigors of my hand.
Soul.
Lord! then I'm drown'd in an Abyſs of ſeats,
If hearty Sighs, nor penitential Tears
Can waſh me clean, nor yet relieve my wo:
My caſe is deſp'rate, what ſhall Mortals do?
Divine Juſtice.
If thou with Tears couldſt the vaſt Ocean fill,
Or grieve till thou thy ſelf with ſorrows kill,
And make ten thouſand Rivers with thy blood,
'Twould not contribute the leaſt dram of Good.
Nay, couldſt thou live, and never more offend,
Yet for old ſins to Hell I muſt thee ſend,
To th' place of Execution thou muſt go:
Lord, ſhall I ſtrike, O ſhall I ſtrike the blow?
Lo, here the Soul, condemned wretch doth ſtand▪
My Ax is up, if thou but giv'ſt command,
I preſently will cut her down with Ire,
Fit fewel for an Everlaſting fire.
Divine Mercy.
Stay, Juſtice! hold, forbear to ſtrike; ſhall I
My Glory loſe to all Eternity?
Though thou art juſt, as juſt as God can be,
Yet ſomething Mortals ſtill expect from me.
'Tis gracious Love and pity I afford,
In me ſhines forth the Glory of the Lord:
In me God doth (O Juſtice) take delight,
Though thou art pleaſant alſo in his ſight.
How ſhall we both then meet in Harmony,
And ſhine in ſpendor to Eternity?
Divine Wiſdom.
I have found out the way, which will you both
With equal Majeſty and Glory cloath.
God is as juſt as Juſtice doth require,
And yet as kind as Mercy can deſire.
Here is a glorious Prince come from above,
Who all obſtructions quickly will remove,
Which in the way of the poor Soul doth lie,
And you appeaſe, and jointly ſatisfy;
To ſave her now from the infernal pit,
I have a Ranſom found, a Ranſom fit.
Divine Juſtice.
I cannot hold,—I'le ſtrike the fatal Blow:
Hell ſhe deſerves; with vengeance let her go
Unto the place appointed for all them
Who do God's holy Laws and Grace contemn.
Jeſus Prince of Light.
O who is this? What Traitor's at the Bar,
That is condemn'd, and Juſtice wo'nt defer
The Execution? ſpeak, hold up thy head;
Haſt any thing to ſay? What canſt thou plead?
Methinks, methinks, I ſhould this Creature know:
Ah! Soul, is't thee? What ſhall I for thee do?
I told thee what thy ſtate would be i'th end,
When firſt my Love to thee I did commend.
Soul! Speak, 'tis I, why doſt thou not look up?
I'm ſorely griev'd to think upon the Cup
That is prepar'd for thee; What doſt thou ſay?
Shall I ſtep in, that Juſtice may delay
To ſtrike the ſtroke, for then too late 'twill be
To ſhow my Love and pity unto thee?
Haſt any kindneſs for me in thine Heart?
I doubt that ſtill thou the ſame Creature art
Thou waſt before? and haſt no love at all:
Why ſpeakſt thou not? ſhall vengeance on thee fall?
Ah! how can I ſee Execution done,
And Tears not from mine Eyes like Rivers run?
Divine Juſtice.
Lord, be n't concern'd, ſhe is thy bitter Foe;
Oh let me therefore freely ſtrike the blow.
There's nought in her but Sin, and poiſonous Evil;
To God a Foe, and Friend unto the Devil.
JESVS.
I know not how to let this ſtroke be given,
For I am come on purpoſe down from Heaven
To make Atonement, and to ſatisfy
For all her ſins and foul Iniquity.
Though ſhe to me doth no affection bear,
Yet her I pity, and do love moſt dear.
Juſtice.
Bleſt JESVS! hold, 'tis my juſt Maſter's ſenſe,
Abuſed Mercy muſt have recompence.
There is no other way but ſhe muſt die,
Unleſs thou wilt be her Securitie:
If in her ſtead thy life thou wilt give up,
Then mayſt thou ſave her from this bitter Cup.
The price which thou on that account wilt pay,
Will make a Compenſation, and defray
All her vaſt Debts, yea plenarily
God's wrath appeaſe, and Juſtice ſatisfy.
What muſt be done? Who is't the ſtroke muſt bear?
Is't not moſt fit ſuch ſhould who guilty are?
I cannot hold my hand, nor longer ſtay,
Law muſt be ſatisfy'd, what doſt thou ſay,
Thou wretched Soul? behold the knife and ſpear!
Can'ſt thou doſt think, God's fearful vengeance bear?
Now, Soul! look to thy ſelf, this Spear I'le run
Into thy Bowels, ere I it return.
JESVS.
Stay Juſtice, ſtay, withold thy furious Dart,
And, let its glitt'ring point firſt pierce my Heart,
Her guilty ſtate aloud calls for relief,
It wounds my Soul and fills my Heart with grief.
My Bowels yearn, my inward parts do move,
Now, now's the time to ſhow her my great Love.
Let Law and Juſtice be ſuffic'd in me,
'Tis I will die, to ſet the Sinner free.
Behold me, Soul! my life ſhall go for thine,
I will redeem thee with this Blood of mine,
Although moſt Precious, Sacred, and Divine.