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Text Sermons : ~Other Speakers S-Z : Michael Wigglesworth : The Day of Doom Stanzas 51-75

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[ 51 ]

The wicked are brought to the Bar,
like quilty Malefactors,
That oftentimes of bloody Crimes
and Treasons have been Actors.
Of wicked Men, none are so mean
as there to be neglected:
Nor none so high in dignity,
as there to be respected.
The wicked
brought to the Bar.
Rom 2:3, 6, 11
[ 52 ]

The glorious Judge will priviledge
nor Emperour, nor King:
But every one that hath mis-done
doth into Judgment bring.
And every one that hath mis-done,
the Judge impartially
Condemneth to eternal wo,
and endless misery.
Rev 6:15-16
Isa 30:33
[ 53 ]

Thus one and all, thus great and small,
the Rich as well as Poor,
And those of place as the most base,
do stand the Judge before.
They are arraign'd, and there detain'd,
before Christ's Judgment-seat
With trembling fear, their Doom to hear,
and feel his angers heat.

[ 54 ]

There Christ demands at all their hands
a strict and strait account
Of all things done under the Sun,
whose number far surmount
Man's wit and thought: yet all are brought
unto this solemn Tryal;
And each offence with evidence,
so that there's no denial.
Eccl 11:9 &
12:14
[ 55 ]

There's no exceuses for their abuses,
since their own Consciences
More proof give in of each Man's sin,
than thousand Witnesses,
Though formerly this faculty
had grosly been abused,
Men could it stifle, or with it trifle,
when as it them accused.

[ 56 ]

Now it comes in, and every sin
unto Mens charge doth lay:
It judgeth them, and doth condemn,
though all the world say nay.
It so stingeth and tortureth,
it worketh such distress,
That each Man's self against himself,
is forced to confess.

[ 57 ]

It's vain, moreover, for Men to cover
the least iniquity:
The Judge hath seen, and privy been
to all their villany.
He unto light, and open sight
the works of darkness brings:
He doth unfold both new and old,
both known and hidden things.
Secret sins and
works of darkness
brought to light.
Ps 139:2, 4, 12
Rom 2:16
[ 58 ]

All filthy facts, and secret acts,
however closly done,
And long conceal'd, are there reveal'd
before the mid-day Sun.
Deeds of the night shunning the light,
which darkest corners sought,
To fearful blame, and endless shame,
are there most justly brought.
Eccl 12:14
[ 59 ]

And as all facts and grosser acts,
so every word and thought,
Erroneous notion, and lustful motion,
are unto judgment brought,
No sin so small and trivial
but hither it must come:
Nor so long past, but now at last
it must receive a doom.
Matt 12:36
Rom 7:7
[ 60 ]

At this sad season, Christ asks a Reason
(with just Austerity)
Of Grace refused, of light abus'd
so oft, so wilfully:
Of Talents lent by them mispent,
and on their Lust bestown;
Which if improv'd, as it behov'd,
Heav'n might have been their own!
An account
demanded of all
their actions.
John 5:40
& 3:19
Matt 25:19, 27
[ 61 ]

Of times neglected, of means rejected,
of God's long-suffering,
And Patience, to Penitence
that sought hard hearts to bring.
Why Cords of love did nothing move
to shame or to remorse?
Why warnings grave, and counsels, have
nought chang'd their sinful course?
Rom 2:4-5
[ 62 ]

Why chastenings, and evil things,
why judgments so severe
Prevailed not with them a jot,
nor wrought an awful fear?
Why Promises of Holiness,
and new Obedience,
They oft did make, but always brake
the same, to God's offence?
Isa 1:5

Jer 2:20
[ 63 ]

Why still Hell-ward, without regard,
they boldly ventured,
And chose Damnation before Salvation,
when it was offered:
Why sinful pleasures, and earthly treasures,
like folls, they prized more
Than heav'nly wealth, Eternal health,
and all Christ's Royal store.
John 3:19-20
Prov 8:36
Luke 12:20-21
[ 64 ]

Why, when he stood off'ring his Blood
to wash them from their sin,
They would embrace no saving Grace,
but liv'd and dy'd therein?
Such aggravations, where no evasions,
nor false pretences hold,
Exaggerate and cumulate
guilt more than can be told.
Luke 13:34
John 5:40
& 15:22
[ 65 ]

They multiply and magnify
mens gross iniquities,
They draw down wrath (as Scripture saith)
out of Gods treasuries.
Thus all their ways Christ open lays
to men and Angels view,
And, as they were, makes them appear
in their own proper hew.

[ 66 ]

Thus he doth find of all Mankind,
that stand at his left hand,
No Mothers Son, but hath mis-done,
and broken God's Command.
All have transgrest, even the best,
and merited God's wrath
Unto their own perdition,
and everlasting scath.
Rom 3:10, 12
[ 67 ]

Earths dwellers all, both great and small,
have wrought iniquity,
And suffer must, for it is just,
Eternal misery.
Amongst the many there come not any,
before the Judge's face,
That able are themselves to clear,
of all this cursed race.
Rom 6:23
[ 68 ]

Nevertheless, they all express,
Christ granting liberty,
What for their way they have to say,
how they have liv'd, and why.
They all draw near, and seek to clear
themselves by making pleas;
There Hypocrites, false hearted wights,
do make such pleas as these:
Hypocrites plead
for themselves
[ 69 ]

Lord, in they Name, and by the same,
we Devils dispossest,
We rais'd the dead, and ministred
succour to the distrest.
Our painful teaching, and pow'rful preaching
by thine own wondrous might,
Did throughly win to God from sin
many a wretched wight.
Matt 7:21-23
[ 70 ]

All this, quoth he, may granted by,
and your case little better'd,
Who still remain under a chain,
and many irons fetter'd.
You that the dead have quickened,
and rescu'd from the grave,
Your selves were dead, yet never ned,
a Christ your Souls to save.
The judge replyeth.
John 6:70
I Cor 9:27
[ 71 ]

You that could preach, and others teach
what way to life doth lead;
Why were you slack to find that track,
and in that way to tread?
How could you bear to see or hear
of others freed at last,
From Satan's pawes, whilst in his jawes
your selves were held more fast?
Rom 2:19, 21-23
[ 72 ]

Who though you knew Prepentance true,
and Faith in my great Name,
The only mean to quit you clean,
from punishment and blame,
Yet took no pain true Faith to gain,
such as might not deceive,
Nor would repent, with true intent,
your evil deeds to leave.
John 9:41


Rev 2:21-22
[ 73 ]

His Masters will how to fulfill
the servant that well knew,
Yet left undone his duty known,
more plagues to him are due.
You against light perverted right;
wherefore it shall be now
For Sidon and for Sodoms Land
more easie than for you.
Luke 12:47
Matt 11:21-22, 24
[ 74 ]

But we have in thy presence been,
say some, and eaten there.
Did we not eat thy Flesh for meat,
and feed on heavenly Cheer?
Whereon who feed shall never need,
as thou thy self dost say,
Nor shall they dy eternally,
but live with Christ for ay.
Another plea of
hypocrites.
Luke 13:26
[ 75 ]

We may alledge, thou gav'st a pledge
of thy dear love to us
In Wine and Bread, which figured
thy Grace bestowed thus.
Of strengthing Seals, of sweetest Meals,
have we so oft partaken;
And shall we be cast off by thee,
and utterly forsaken?







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