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Come finful wights, did you delight in glorifying God?

Or was the end you did intend
only to 'fcape his rod ?

The men that stand at the right hand,
joy'd in God's praifes high:
And if that they were calt away,
Yet would him glorify.

Could you believe you should receive
a pardon that was good,
When you the part that's call'd the heart
ne'er fought to have renew'd."

God looks upon th' effection and temper of the heart; Not only on the action,

and the external part.

Whatever end vain men pretend,
God knows the verity;

And by the end which they intend
their words and deeds doth try.

Without true Faith the Scripture faith God cannot take delight

In any deed that doth proceed from any finful wight.

And without love all actions prove but barren empty things;

Deat works they be, and vanity, the which vexation brings.

Nor

Nor from true faith, which quencheth wrath hath your obedience Alown:

Nor from true love which wont to move believers hath it grown.

Your argument fhews your intent, in all that you have done:

You thought to fcale heav'ns lofty wail by ladders of your own.

Your blinded fpirit hoping to merit
by your own Righteousness,
Needed no Saviour, but your behaviour,
and blameless carriages.

You trusted to what you could do,
and in no need you stood :
Your haughty pride laid me afide,
and trampled on my blood.

All men have gone aftray, and done
that which God's laws condemn :
But my purchafe and offered grace
all men did not contemn.
The Nenevites, and Sodomites,

had no fuch fin as this:

Yet as if all your fins were fmall, you fay all did amifs.

Again you thought, and mainly fought a name with men t' acquire; Pride bear the bell, that made you fwell and your own felves admire.

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Means fruit it is, and vile, I wifs, that fprings from such a root: Virtue divine and genuine

wonts not from pride to fhoot.

Such deeds as your are worfe than poor; they are but fins, gilt over With filver drois, whole glistering gloss can them no longer cover. The best of them would you contemn, and run you alone,

Although you were from faults fo clear
that other you had none.

A wondrous crou'd then 'gan aloud
thus for themselves to lay,
We did intend, Lord, to amend,
and to reform our way.

Our true intent was to repent,
and our peace with thee;
But fudden death ftopping our breath,
left us no liberty.

Let our good will to turn from ill,
and fin to have forfaken,
Accepted be O Lord, by thee,
and in good paît be taken.
To whom the Judge, Where you alledge
the fhortness of the space,

That from your birth you liv'd on earth, to compafs faving grace:

It

It was free grace that any space was given you at all,

To turn from evil, defy the Devil, and upon God to call.

You had a feafon, what was your reafon fuch precious hours to wat?

What could you and, what could you mind, that was of greater haft ?

Could you find time for vain paftime, for loofe licentious mirth ?

For fruitless toys, and fading joys
that perfh in the birth?

Had you good leifure for carnal pleasure,
in days of health and youth?
And yet no fpace to leek God's face,
and turn to him in truth?

In younger years beyond your fears,
what if you were surprised?
You put away the evil day,
and of long life devifed.

You oft were told, and might behold
that Death no age doth pare;
Why then did you your time foreflow,
and flight your fouls welfare?

Had your intent been to repent,

and had you it defir'd,

There would have been endeavors feen

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God makes no treasure, nor hath he pleasure in idle purposes:

Such fair pretences are foul offences,
and cloaks for wickedness.

Others argue, and not a few,
is not God gracious?
His equity and clemency

are they not marvellous ?
Thus we believ'd; are we deciv'd?
cannot his mercy great,
(As hath been told to us of old)
affwage his anger's heat?

Unto thy name more glorious fame would not fuch mercy bring? Would not it raife thine endless praise more than our fuffering?

With that they ceafe, holding their peace but cease not fill to weep; Grief ministers a flood of tears, in which their words do fteep.

But all too late, grief's out of date, when life is at an end.

The glorious King thus anfwering,

all to his voice attend: With cords of love God often ftrove your ftubborn hearts to tame, Nevertheless your wickedness, did ftill refift the fame.

Your

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