6 6 That sweetly, by resistless grace inclin❜d, "Thou spak'st to being ev'ry thing we see, Nothings to being in a moment pass: ""Let there be light, thou saidst; and so it was"." A pow'rful word like this, a mighty call, Must say, Let there be faith, and then it shall. Thou seek'st my faith and light from sin and guilt: 'Give what thou seek'st, Lord; then seek what thou wilt. What good can issue from a root so ill? This heart of mine's a wicked lump of hell; "Twill all thy common motions still resist, Unless with special drawing virtue blest. Thou calls, but with the call thy pow'r convey; Nor any more thy gracious call gainsay. Then pow'rless I will stretch the wither'd hand. But what is borrow'd from thy glorious name; "Which though most justly thou may'st glorifie, In damning such a guilty wretch as me, A faggot fitted for the burning fire Of thine incensed everlastitg ire': Yet, Lord, since now I hear thy glorious Son, In favour of a race that was undone, Did in thy name, by thy authority, Once to the full stern justice satisfy ; And paid more glorious tribute thereunto Than hell and all its torments e'er can do. Since my salvation through his blood can raise • Higher than rents which hell for ever pays; A satisfaction equal and condign. But Jesus, our once dying God, performs y Gen. i. 3. 1 Since thus thy threat'ning law is honour'd more Since justice stern may greater glory won, By justifying in thy darling Son, 'Than by condemning ev'n the rebel me; Since this bright scene thy glories all express, 'And grace as empress reigns through righteousness 'Since mercy fair runs in a crimson flood; 'And vents through justice satisfying blood: 'Not only then for mercy's sake Í sue, But for the glory of thy justice too. 'And since each letter of thy name divine Has in fair Jesus' face the brightest shine, 'This glorious husband be for ever mine. On this strong argument so sweet, so blest, With thy allowance, Lord, I must insist. Great God, since thou allow'st unworthy me To make thy glorious name my humble plea; 'No glory worthy of it wilt thou gain By casting me into the burning main. 'My feeble back can never suit the load, That speaks thy hame a sin-revenging God. 'Scarce would that name seem a consuming fire 'Upon a worm unworthy of thine ire. 'But see the worthy Lamb, thy chosen Priest, With justice' burning-glass against his breast, 'Contracting all the beams of 'venging wrath, 'As in their centre, 'till he burnt to death. · •Vengeance can never be so much proclaim'd 'By scatter'd beams among the millions damn'd. Then, Lord, in him me to the utmost save, And thou shalt glory to the highest have: Glory to Wisdom, that contriv'd so well! 'Glory to Pow'r, that bore and bury'd hell! 'Glory to Holiness, which sin defac'd, With sinless service now divinely grac'd! Glory to Justice sword, that flaming stood, 'Now drunk to pleasure with atoning blood! Glory to Truth, that now, in scarlet clad, 'Has seal'd both threats and promises with red! Glory to Mercy, now in purple streams, 'So sweetly gliding through the divine flames 'Of other once offended, now exalted names! Each attribute conspires with joint embrace, To shew its sparkling rays in Jesus' face; And thus to deck the crown of matchless grace. But to thy name in hell ne'er can accrue The thousandth part of this great revenue. O ravishing contrivance! light that blinds Cherubic gazers, and seraphic minds. They pry into the deep, and love to learn What yet should vastly more be my concern. Lord, once my hope most reasonless could drear Of heav'n, without regard to thy great name ; • But here is laid, my lasting hope to found, A highly rational, a lasting ground. "Tis reasonable, I expect thou'lt take The way that most will for thine honour make. Lord, shield and save me for thy glory's sake. Small loss, though I should perish endless days, · O hear, JEHOVAH, get the glory then, And to my supplication say, AMEN.' SECT. V. The terrible Doom of Unbelievers, and Rejecters of Christ, or Despisers of the Gospel. THUS, sinner, into Jesus' bosom flee, And court the Lamb of God a virgin bride. Then farewell God and Christ, and grace and glore! 66 66 As finite vessels of his wrath can hold. Then, then we may suppose the wretch to cry, Oh! if this damning God would let me die, . And not torment me to eternity! Why from the silent womb of stupid earth 'Did Heav'n awake, and push me into birth? • Curs'd be the day that ever gave me life; 6 6 6 . Curs'd be the cruel parents, man and wife, Means of my being, instruments of woe; For now I'm damn'd, I'm damn'd, and always so! Curs'd be the day that ever made me hear The gospel-call, which brought salvation near. The endless sound of slighted mercy's bell, Has in mine ears the most tormenting knell. The joyful sound with horror recognosce. The hollow vault reverberates the sound, • And with too late remorse does now confound, 6 Th' once open door of hope for ever block'd; Banish'd for ever from eternal bliss. In boiling waves of vengeance must I lie? • O could I curse this dreadful God, and die! • Infinite years in torment shall I spend, . And never, never, never at an end! Ah! must I live in torturing despair z Heb. x. 29, 31. |