University of Virginia Library

A Threnodiall Dialogue between The Second and Third Ranks.

SECOND
Oh you! How do you? Alas! how do things go
With you, and with your Souls? For once we know
You did as we, Welt, Wallow, Soake in Sin;
For which Gods ire infires our hearts within.

THIRD
Ne're worse, though when secure in sin much worse.
Though curst by sin, we did not feele the Curse.
Now seing we no help can see, we, rue.
Would God it was with us as't is with you.

SECOND
With us! alas! a Flint would melt to see
A Deadly foe, in such a Case as wee.
God seems our Foe, repent we Can't: but finde
To ill Goodwill, to Good, a wayward minde.

THIRD
This is in you your Grace, we easely spie
The Love of God within your looks to ly.
But oh! our Souls set in sins Cramp stand bent
To Badness, and no Grace we have t'Repent.

SECOND
This is your Charity. But if you saw
Those ugly Crawling Sins that do us knaw
You'd Change your minde. You mourn, and pray we see:
We would not for a World, you were as wee.

THIRD
Repent! and Pray! Aye, so the Traytor Cast,
Cries, Good my Lord! yea, when his Doom is past.
You erre through your Abundant Charity.
We dare not wish, as we, our Enemy.

SECOND
Your Low esteemings of yourselves enlarge
Ours of you much. But oh, that Dismall Charge!
We don't Repent, Believe, we nothing do:
No Grace we have though something Gracelike show.

THIRD
Is't so with you who do so much out do
Poor nothings us? Oh! whither shall we go?
Our Grace a Mockgrace is: of Ulcerous Boiles.
We are as full, as Satan is of Wiles.

SECOND
There's not a Sin that is not in our Heart.
And if Occasion were, it would out start.
There's not a Precept that we have not broke.
Hence not a Promise unto us is spoke.

THIRD
Its worse with us: The Preacher speaks no word.
The Word of God no sentence doth afford;
But fall like burning Coals of Hell new blown
Upon our Souls: and on our Heads are thrown.

SECOND
Its worse with us. Behold Gods threatonings all;
Nay Law, and Gospell, on our Heads do fall.
Both Hell, and Heaven, God and Divell Do
With Wracking Terrours Consummate our Woe.

THIRD
We'le ne're believe that you are worse than wee,
For Worse than us wee judge no Soul can bee.
We know not where to run, nor what to doe.
Would God it was no worse with us than you.

SECOND
Than us, alas! What, would you fain aspire
Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire?
Change States with you with all our hearts we would
Nay, and give boot therewith, if that we could.

THIRD
Say what you can, we can't but thinke this true
That Grace's Ambush hath surprized you.
But Judgment layes an Ambush strong to take
[OMITTED]

SECOND
What Charity have you for us? When thus
You judge amiss both of yourselves and us?
What pitty is't? Yet God will you repay.
Although we perish, and be cast away.

THIRD
The Lord forbid the last, and grant we may
Deceived be wherein we be, you say.
We Cannot wish a Toade as wee, but Crave,
Your prayers for us, that we may pardon have.

SECOND
Our Pray'res, are pray'reless: Oh! to what we bee
An ugly Toad's an Angell bright we see.
Oh pray, pray you, oh pray, for us that so
The Lord of Mercy Mercy on's may show.

THIRD
O would we could! but oh Hells Gripes do grinde
Yea writh our Souls with Cramps of e'ry kinde.
If Grace begrace us not, we go to Hell.
The Good Lord help us both, thus fare you Well.