LXXXI.

Then forth issue another Crew   (those being silencéd), Who drawing nigh to the Most High,   adventure thus to plead: “We sinners were,” say they, “’tis clear,   deserving condemnation; But did not we rely on thee,   O Christ, for whole Salvation?

LXXXII. [69]

“We did believe, and oft receive   thy gracious Promises; We took great care to get a share   in endless Happiness. We pray’d and wept, and Fast-days kept,   lewd ways we did eschew; We joyful were thy Word to hear;   we form’d our lives anew.

LXXXIII.[70]

“We thought our sin had pardon’d been,   that our Estate was good, Our debts all paid, our peace well made,   our Souls wash’d with thy Blood. Lord, why dost though reject us now,   who have not thee rejected, Nor utterly true sanctity   and holy life neglected?“

_The Judge uneaseth them._

LXXXIV. [71]

The Judge incens’d at their pretens’d   self-vaunting Piety, With such a look as trembling strook   unto them made reply: “O impudent, impenitent,   and guileful generation! Think you that I cannot descry   your hearts’ abomination?

LXXXV. [72]

“You nor receiv’d, nor yet believ’d   my Promises of Grace, Nor were you wise enough to prize   my reconciléd Face; But did presume that to assume   which was not yours to take, And challengéd the Children’s Bread,   yet would not sin forsake.

LXXXVI. [73]

“Being too bold you laid fast hold   where int’rest you had none, Yourselves deceiving by your believing,   all which you might have known. You ran away but ran astray   with Gospel Promises, And perishéd, being still dead   in sins and trespasses.

LXXXVII. [74]

“How oft did I Hypocrisy   and Hearts’ deceits unmask Before your sight, giving you light   know a Christian’s task? But you held fast unto the last   your own conceits so vain, No warning could prevail; you would   your own Deceits retain.

LXXXVIII. [75]

“As for your care to get a share   in Bliss; the fear of Hell, And of a part in endless smart,   did thereunto compel. Your holiness and ways redress,   such as it was, did spring From no true love to things above,   But from some other thing.

LXXXIX. [76]

“You pray’d and wept, you Fast-days kept,   but did you this to me? No, but for sin you sought to win   the greater liberty. For all your vaunts, you had vile haunts,   which for your Consciences Did you alarm, whose voice to charm   you us’d these practices.

XC. [77]

“Your Penitence, your diligence   to Read, to Pray, to Hear, Were but to drown the clam’rous sound   of Conscience in your Ear. If light you lov’d, vain glory mov’d   yourselves therewith to store, That seeming wise men might you prize,   and honor you the more.

XCI. [78]

“Thus from yourselves unto yourselves,   your duties all do tend; And as self-love the wheels doth move,   so in self-love they end.“ Thus Christ detects their vain projects,   and close Impiety, And plainly shews that all their shows   were but Hypocrisy.

_Civil honest men’s pleas._

XCII. [79]

Then were brought nigh a Company   of Civil honest Men, Civil honest That lov’d true dealing and hated stealing,   ne’er wrong’d their Bretheren; Who pleaded thus: “Thou knowest us   that we were blameless livers; No Whoremongers, no Murderers,   no quarrelers nor strivers.