CXLVI.

“Of Man’s fall’n race, who can true Grace   or Holiness obtain? Who can convert or change his heart,   if God withhold the same? Had we applied ourselves and tried   as much as who did most, God’s love to gain, our busy pain   and labor bad been lost.“

_Their pleas taken off._

CXLVII. [125]

Christ readily makes this Reply:   “I damn you not because You are rejected, nor yet elected;   but you have broke my Laws. It is in vain your wits to strain   the end and means to sever; Men fondly seek to part or break   what God hath link’d together.

CXLVIII. [126]

“Whom God will save, such he will have   the means of life to use; Whom he’ll pass by shall choose to die,   and ways of life refuse. He that fore-sees and fore-decrees,   in wisdom order’ d has. That man’s free-will, electing ill,   shall bring his Will to pass.

CXLIX. [127]

“High God’s Decree, as it is free,   so doth it none compel Against their will to good or ill;   it forceth none to Hell. They have their wish whose Souls perish   with Torments in Hell-fire, Who rather choose their souls to lose,   than leave a loose desire.

CL. [128]

“God did ordain sinners to pain,   yet he to Hell sends none But such as swerv’d and have deserv’d   destruction as their own. His pleasure is, that none from Bliss   and endless happiness Be barr’d, but such as wrong’d him much   by willful wickedness.

CLI. [129]

“You, sinful Crew! no other knew   but you might be elect; Why did you then yourselves condemn?   Why did you me reject? Where was your strife to gain that life   which lasteth evermore? You never knock’ d, yet say God lock’d   against you Heaven’s door.

CLII. [130]

“’Twas no vain task to knock and ask,   whilst life continued. Who ever sought Heav’n as he ought,   and seeking perished? The lowly, meek, who truly seek   for Christ and for Salvation, There’s no decree whereby such be   ordain’d to condemnation.

CLIII. [131]

You argue then: ’But abject men,   whom God resolves to spill, Cannot repent, nor their hearts rent;   nor can they change their will.’ Not for his _Can_ is any man   adjudgéd unto Hell, But for his _Will_ to do what’s ill,   and nilling to do well.