CXCIII.

They’ve neither skill, nor do they will   to work them any ease; They will not mourn to see them burn,   nor beg for their release. To wicked men, their bretheren   in sin and wickedness, Should they make moan? Their case is one;   they’re in the same distress.

CXCIV. [158]

Ah! cold comfort and mean support,   from such like Comforters! Ah! little joy of Company,   and fellow-sufferers! Such shall increase their heart’s disease,   and add unto their woe, Because that they brought to decay   themselves and many moe.

CXCV. [159]

Unto the Saints with sad complaints   should they themselves apply? They’re not dejected nor aught affected   with all their misery. Friends stand aloof and make no proof   what Prayers or Tears can do; Your Godly friends are now more friend   to Christ than unto you.

CXCVI. [160]

Where tender love men’s hearts did move   unto a sympathy, And bearing part of others’ smart   in their anxiety, Now such compassion is out of fashion,   and wholly laid aside; No friends so near, but Saints to hear   their Sentence can abide.

CXCVII. [161]

One natural Brother beholds another   in his astonied fit. Yet sorrows not thereat a jot,   nor pities him a whit. The godly Wife conceives no grief   nor can she shed a tear For the sad state of her dear Mate,   when she his doom doth hear.

CXCVIII. [^198]

He that was erst a Husband pierc’d   with sense of Wife’s distress. Whose tender heart did bear a part   of all her grievances, Shall mourn no more as heretofore,   because of her ill plight. Although he see her now to be   a damn’d forsaken wight.

CXCIX. [162]

The tender Mother will own no other   of all her num’rous brood, But such as stand at Christ’s right hand,   acquitted through his Blood. The pious Father had now much rather   his graceless Son should lie In Hell with Devils, for all his evils,   burning eternally,

CC. [163]

Than God most High should injury   by sparing him sustain; And doth rejoice to hear Christ’s voice,   adjudging him to pain. Thus having all, both great and small,   convinc’d and silencéd, Christ did proceed their Doom to read,   and thus it utteréd:

_The Judge pronounceth the sentence of condemnation._

CCI. [164]

*“Ye sinful wights and curséd sprights,*   _that work iniquity,_ _Depart together from me for ever_   _to endless Misery;_ _Your portion take in yonder Lake,_   _where Fire and Brimstone flameth;_ _Suffer the smart which your desert,_   *as its due wages claimeth.“*

_The terror of it._