 | God's Controversy with New-England |  |
Are these the men that erst at my command
Forsook their ancient seats and native soile,
To follow me into a desart land,
Contemning all the travell and the toile,
Whose love was such to purest ordinances
As made them set at nought their fair inheritances?
Forsook their ancient seats and native soile,
To follow me into a desart land,
Contemning all the travell and the toile,
Whose love was such to purest ordinances
As made them set at nought their fair inheritances?
87
Are these the men that prized libertee
To walk with God according to their light,
To be as good as he would have them bee,
To serve and worship him with all their might,
Before the pleasures which a fruitfull field,
And country flowing-full of all good things, could yield,
To walk with God according to their light,
To be as good as he would have them bee,
To serve and worship him with all their might,
Before the pleasures which a fruitfull field,
And country flowing-full of all good things, could yield,
Are these the folk whom from the brittish Iles,
Through the stern billows of the watry main,
I safely led so many thousand miles,
As if their journey had been through a plain?
Whom having from all enemies protected,
And through so many deaths and dangers well directed,
Through the stern billows of the watry main,
I safely led so many thousand miles,
As if their journey had been through a plain?
Whom having from all enemies protected,
And through so many deaths and dangers well directed,
I brought and planted on the western shore,
Where nought but bruits and salvage wights did swarm
(Untaught, untrain'd, untam'd by vertue's lore)
That sought their blood, yet could not do them harm?
My fury's flaile them thresht, my fatall broom
Did sweep them hence, to make my people elbow-room.
Where nought but bruits and salvage wights did swarm
(Untaught, untrain'd, untam'd by vertue's lore)
That sought their blood, yet could not do them harm?
My fury's flaile them thresht, my fatall broom
Did sweep them hence, to make my people elbow-room.
Are these the men whose gates with peace I crown'd,
To whom for bulwarks I salvation gave,
Whilst all things else with rattling tumults sound,
And mortall frayes send thousands to the grave?
Whilest their own brethren bloody hands embrewed
In brothers blood, and fields with carcases bestrewed?
To whom for bulwarks I salvation gave,
Whilst all things else with rattling tumults sound,
And mortall frayes send thousands to the grave?
Whilest their own brethren bloody hands embrewed
In brothers blood, and fields with carcases bestrewed?
Is this the people blest with bounteous store,
By land and sea full richly clad and fed,
Whom plenty's self stands waiting still before,
And powreth out their cups well tempered?
For whose dear sake an howling wildernes
I lately turned into a fruitfull paradeis?
By land and sea full richly clad and fed,
Whom plenty's self stands waiting still before,
And powreth out their cups well tempered?
For whose dear sake an howling wildernes
I lately turned into a fruitfull paradeis?
Are these the people in whose hemisphere
Such bright-beam'd, glist'ring, sun-like starrs I placed,
As by their influence did all things cheere,
As by their light blind ignorance defaced,
As errours into lurking holes did fray,
As turn'd the late dark night into a lightsome day?
Such bright-beam'd, glist'ring, sun-like starrs I placed,
As by their influence did all things cheere,
As by their light blind ignorance defaced,
As errours into lurking holes did fray,
As turn'd the late dark night into a lightsome day?
Are these the folk to whom I milked out
And sweetnes stream'd from consolations brest;
Whose soules I fed and strengthened throughout
With finest spirituall food most finely drest?
On whom I rained living bread from Heaven,
Withouten Errour's bane, or Superstition's leaven?
And sweetnes stream'd from consolations brest;
Whose soules I fed and strengthened throughout
With finest spirituall food most finely drest?
On whom I rained living bread from Heaven,
Withouten Errour's bane, or Superstition's leaven?
88
With whom I made a Covenant of peace,
And unto whom I did most firmly plight
My faithfulness, If whilst I live I cease
To be their Guide, their God, their full delight;
Since them with cords of love to me I drew,
Enwrapping in my grace such as should them ensew.
And unto whom I did most firmly plight
My faithfulness, If whilst I live I cease
To be their Guide, their God, their full delight;
Since them with cords of love to me I drew,
Enwrapping in my grace such as should them ensew.
Are these the men, that now mine eyes behold,
Concerning whom I thought, and whilome spake,
First Heaven shall pass away together scrold,
Ere they my lawes and righteous wayes forsake,
Or that they slack to runn their heavenly race?
Are these the same? or are some others come in place?
Concerning whom I thought, and whilome spake,
First Heaven shall pass away together scrold,
Ere they my lawes and righteous wayes forsake,
Or that they slack to runn their heavenly race?
Are these the same? or are some others come in place?
If these be they, how is it that I find
In stead of holiness Carnality,
In stead of heavenly frames an Earthly mind,
For burning zeal luke-warm Indifferency,
For flaming love, key-cold Dead-heartedness,
For temperance (in meat, and drinke, and cloaths) excess?
In stead of holiness Carnality,
In stead of heavenly frames an Earthly mind,
For burning zeal luke-warm Indifferency,
For flaming love, key-cold Dead-heartedness,
For temperance (in meat, and drinke, and cloaths) excess?
Whence cometh it, that Pride, and Luxurie
Debate, Deceit, Contention, and Strife,
False-dealing, Covetousness, Hypocrisie
(With such like Crimes) amongst them are so rife,
That one of them doth over-reach another?
And that an honest man can hardly trust his Brother?
Debate, Deceit, Contention, and Strife,
False-dealing, Covetousness, Hypocrisie
(With such like Crimes) amongst them are so rife,
That one of them doth over-reach another?
And that an honest man can hardly trust his Brother?
How is it, that Security, and Sloth,
Amongst the best are Common to be found?
That grosser sins, in stead of Graces growth,
Amongst the many more and more abound?
I hate dissembling shews of Holiness.
Or practise as you talk, or never more profess.
Amongst the best are Common to be found?
That grosser sins, in stead of Graces growth,
Amongst the many more and more abound?
I hate dissembling shews of Holiness.
Or practise as you talk, or never more profess.
Judge not, vain world, that all are hypocrites
That do profess more holiness then thou:
All foster not dissembling, guilefull sprites,
Nor love their lusts, though very many do.
Some sin through want of care and constant watch,
Some with the sick converse, till they the sickness catch.
That do profess more holiness then thou:
All foster not dissembling, guilefull sprites,
Nor love their lusts, though very many do.
Some sin through want of care and constant watch,
Some with the sick converse, till they the sickness catch.
Some, that maintain a reall root of grace,
Are overgrown with many noysome weeds,
Whose heart, that those no longer may take place,
The benefit of due correction needs.
And such as these however gone astray
I shall by stripes reduce into a better way.
Are overgrown with many noysome weeds,
Whose heart, that those no longer may take place,
The benefit of due correction needs.
And such as these however gone astray
I shall by stripes reduce into a better way.
89
Moreover some there be that still retain
Their ancient vigour and sincerity;
Whom both their own, and others sins, constrain
To sigh, and mourn, and weep, and wail, & cry:
And for their sakes I have forborn to powre
My wrath upon Revolters to this present houre.
Their ancient vigour and sincerity;
Whom both their own, and others sins, constrain
To sigh, and mourn, and weep, and wail, & cry:
And for their sakes I have forborn to powre
My wrath upon Revolters to this present houre.
To praying Saints I always have respect,
And tender love, and pittifull regard:
Nor will I now in any wise neglect
Their love and faithfull service to reward;
Although I deal with others for their folly,
And turn their mirth to tears that have been too jolly.
And tender love, and pittifull regard:
Nor will I now in any wise neglect
Their love and faithfull service to reward;
Although I deal with others for their folly,
And turn their mirth to tears that have been too jolly.
For thinke not, O Backsliders, in your heart,
That I shall still your evill manners beare:
Your sinns me press as sheaves do load a cart,
And therefore I will plague you for this geare
Except you seriously, and soon, repent,
Ile not delay your pain and heavy punishment.
That I shall still your evill manners beare:
Your sinns me press as sheaves do load a cart,
And therefore I will plague you for this geare
Except you seriously, and soon, repent,
Ile not delay your pain and heavy punishment.
And who be those themselves that yonder shew?
The seed of such as name my dreadfull Name!
On whom whilere compassions skirt I threw
Whilest in their blood they were, to hide their shame!
Whom my preventing love did neer me take!
Whom for mine own I mark't, lest they should me forsake!
The seed of such as name my dreadfull Name!
On whom whilere compassions skirt I threw
Whilest in their blood they were, to hide their shame!
Whom my preventing love did neer me take!
Whom for mine own I mark't, lest they should me forsake!
I look't that such as these to vertue's Lore
(Though none but they) would have Enclin'd their ear:
That they at least mine image should have bore,
And sanctify'd my name with awfull fear.
Let pagan's Bratts pursue their lusts, whose meed
Is Death: For christians children are an holy seed.
(Though none but they) would have Enclin'd their ear:
That they at least mine image should have bore,
And sanctify'd my name with awfull fear.
Let pagan's Bratts pursue their lusts, whose meed
Is Death: For christians children are an holy seed.
But hear O Heavens! Let Earth amazed stand;
Ye Mountaines melt, and Hills come flowing down:
Let horror seize upon both Sea and Land;
Let Natures self be cast into a stown.
I children nourisht, nurtur'd and upheld:
But they against a tender father have rebell'd.
Ye Mountaines melt, and Hills come flowing down:
Let horror seize upon both Sea and Land;
Let Natures self be cast into a stown.
I children nourisht, nurtur'd and upheld:
But they against a tender father have rebell'd.
What could have been by me performed more?
Or wherein fell I short of your desire?
Had you but askt, I would have op't my store,
And given what lawfull wishes could require.
For all this bounteous cost I lookt to see
Heaven-reaching-hearts, & thoughts, Meekness, Humility.
Or wherein fell I short of your desire?
Had you but askt, I would have op't my store,
And given what lawfull wishes could require.
For all this bounteous cost I lookt to see
Heaven-reaching-hearts, & thoughts, Meekness, Humility.
90
But lo, a sensuall Heart all void of grace,
An Iron neck, a proud presumptuous Hand;
A self-conceited, stiff, stout, stubborn Race,
That fears no threats, submitts to no command:
Self-will'd, perverse, such as can beare no yoke;
A Generation even ripe for vengeance stroke.
An Iron neck, a proud presumptuous Hand;
A self-conceited, stiff, stout, stubborn Race,
That fears no threats, submitts to no command:
Self-will'd, perverse, such as can beare no yoke;
A Generation even ripe for vengeance stroke.
Such were that Carnall Brood of Israelites
That Josua and the Elders did ensue,
Who growing like the cursed Cananites
Upon themselves my heavy judgements drew.
Such also was that fleshly Generation,
Whom I o'rewhelm'd by waters deadly inundation.
That Josua and the Elders did ensue,
Who growing like the cursed Cananites
Upon themselves my heavy judgements drew.
Such also was that fleshly Generation,
Whom I o'rewhelm'd by waters deadly inundation.
They darker light, and lesser meanes misused;
They had not such Examples them to warn:
You clearer Rules, and Precepts, have abused,
And dreadfull monuments of others harm.
My gospels glorious light you do not prize:
My Gospels endless, boundless grace you clean despize.
They had not such Examples them to warn:
You clearer Rules, and Precepts, have abused,
And dreadfull monuments of others harm.
My gospels glorious light you do not prize:
My Gospels endless, boundless grace you clean despize.
My painfull messengers you disrespect,
Who toile and sweat and sweale themselves away,
Yet nought at all with you can take effect,
Who hurrie headlong to yor own decay.
In vain the Founder melts, and taketh pains:
Bellows and Lead's consum'd, but still your dross remains.
Who toile and sweat and sweale themselves away,
Yet nought at all with you can take effect,
Who hurrie headlong to yor own decay.
In vain the Founder melts, and taketh pains:
Bellows and Lead's consum'd, but still your dross remains.
What should I do with such a stiff-neckt race?
How shall I ease me of such Foes as they?
What shall befall despizers of my Grace?
I'le surely beare their candle-stick away,
And Lamps put out. Their glorious noon-day light
I'le quickly turn into a dark Egyptian night.
How shall I ease me of such Foes as they?
What shall befall despizers of my Grace?
I'le surely beare their candle-stick away,
And Lamps put out. Their glorious noon-day light
I'le quickly turn into a dark Egyptian night.
Oft have I charg'd you by my ministers
To gird your selves with sack cloth, and repent.
Oft have I warnd you by my messengers;
That so you might my wrathfull ire prevent:
But who among you hath this warning taken?
Who hath his crooked wayes, & wicked works forsaken?
To gird your selves with sack cloth, and repent.
Oft have I warnd you by my messengers;
That so you might my wrathfull ire prevent:
But who among you hath this warning taken?
Who hath his crooked wayes, & wicked works forsaken?
Yea many grow to more and more excess;
More light and loose, more Carnall and prophane.
The sins of Sodom, Pride, and Wantonness,
Among the multitude spring up amain.
Are these the fruits of Pious Education,
To run with greater speed and Courage to Damnation?
More light and loose, more Carnall and prophane.
The sins of Sodom, Pride, and Wantonness,
Among the multitude spring up amain.
Are these the fruits of Pious Education,
To run with greater speed and Courage to Damnation?
91
If here and there some two, or three, shall steere
A wiser course, then their Companions do,
You make a mock of such; and scoff, and jeere
Becaus they will not be so bad as you.
Such is the Generation that succeeds
The men, whose eyes have seen my great & awfull deeds.
A wiser course, then their Companions do,
You make a mock of such; and scoff, and jeere
Becaus they will not be so bad as you.
Such is the Generation that succeeds
The men, whose eyes have seen my great & awfull deeds.
Now therefore hearken and encline yor ear,
In judgement I will henceforth with you plead;
And if by that you will not learn to fear,
But still go on a sensuall life to lead:
I'le strike at once an All-Consuming stroke;
Nor cries nor tears shall then my fierce intent revoke.
In judgement I will henceforth with you plead;
And if by that you will not learn to fear,
But still go on a sensuall life to lead:
I'le strike at once an All-Consuming stroke;
Nor cries nor tears shall then my fierce intent revoke.
| God's Controversy with New-England | |