University of Virginia Library

The Lord commeth with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all. Jude. 14. 15.

I heare and tremble! Lord, what shall I doe
T'avoid thy anger, whether shall I goe?
What, shall I scale the Mountaines? 'las they be
Farre lesse then Atoms if compar'd with thee.
What, shall I strive to get my selfe a Tombe,
Within the greedy Oceans swelling Wombe?
Shall I dive into Rockes? where shall I flie
The sure discovery of thy peircing Eye?
Alas I know not; though with many a teare
In Hell they mone thy absence, thou art there;
Thou art on Earth and well observest all
The actions acted on this massie Ball;
And when thou look'st on mine, what can I say?
I dare not stand, nor can I run away.
Thine eyes are pure and cannot looke upon
(And what else Lord am I?) Corruption.
Thou hatest sinnes, and if thou once begin
To cast me in the Scales, I all am sinne;
Thou still continu'st one, O Lord; I range
In various formes of crimes and love my change.
Lord thou that mad'st me, bid'st I should present
My Heart unto thee; O see how 'tis rent,
By various Monsters; see how fastly held,
How stubornely they doe deny to yeild.
How shall I stand, when that thou shalt be hurl'd
On Cloudes, in robes of fire to Judge the world,
Usher'd with golden Legions, in thine Eye
Carrying an all-enraged Majesty;
That shall the Earth into a Palsie stroke,
And make the Clouds sigh out themselves in smoake,
How can I stand? yes Lord I may although
Thou beest the Judge, thou art a party too;
Thou sufferest for these faults, for which thou shall
Arraigne me Lord, thou sufferest for them all,
They are not mine at all, these wounds of thine
That on thy glorious side so brightly shine,
Seal'd me a pardon, in those wounds th'are hid
And in that side of thine th'are buried.
Lord smile againe upon us; whith what grace
Doth mercy sit enthroniz'd on thy face!
How did that scarlet sweat become thee when
That sweat did wash away the filth of men?
How did those peevish thornes adorne thy brow?
Each thorne more richly then a Gem did glow?
Yet by those thornes (Lord how thy love abounds!)
Are we poore wormes made capable of Crownes.
Come so to Judgement Lord; th'Apostles shall
No more into their drowsy slumber fall,
But stand and hearken how the Judge shall say
Come come my Lambes to Ioy, come come away.