XXVIII.
All silence keep both Goats and Sheep before the Judge’s Throne; With mild aspect to his Elect then speaks the Holy One: “My Sheep draw near, your Sentence hear, which is to you no dread, Who clearly now discern and know your sins are pardonéd.
XXXIX. [34]
“’Twas meet that ye should judgéd be, that so the World may spy No cause of grudge, when as I judge and deal impartially. Know therefore all both great and small, the ground and reason why These Men do stand at my right hand and look so cheerfully.
XL.[35]
“These Men be those my Father chose before the World’s foundation, And to me gave, that I should save from Death and Condemnation; For whose dear sake I flesh did take, was of a Woman born. And did inure myself t’ endure unjust reproach and scorn.
XLI. [36]
“For then it was that I did pass through sorrows many a one; That I drank up that bitter Cup which made me sigh and groan. The Cross’s pain I did sustain; yea more, my Father’s ire I underwent, my Blood I spent to save them from Hell-fire.
XLII. [37]
“Thus I esteeméd, thus I redeeméd all these from every Nation, That they may be (as now you see) a chosen Generation. What if ere while they were as vile and bad as any be. And yet from all their guilt and thrall at once I set them free?
XLIII.[38]
“My grace to one is wrong to none; none can Election claim; Amongst all those their souls that lose, none can Rejection blame. He that may choose, or else refuse, all men to save or spill, May this Man choose, and that refuse, redeeming whom he will.
XLIV. [39]
“But as for those whom I have chose Salvation’s heirs to be, I underwent their punishment, and therefore set them free. I bore their grief, and their relief by suffering procur’d. That they of bliss and happiness might firmly be assur’d.
XLV. [40]
“And this my grace they did embrace, believing on my Name; Which Faith was true, the fruits do shew proceeding from the same;— Their Penitence, their Pati-ence, their Love and Self-denial, In suff’ring losses and bearing Crosses, when put upon the trial;—
XLVI. [41]
“Their sin forsaking, their cheerful taking my Yoke, their Charity Unto the Saints in all their wants, and in them unto me;— These things do clear, and make appear their Faith to be unfeignéd, And that a part in my desert and purchase they have gainéd.
XLVII. [42]
“Their debts are paid, their peace is made, their sins remitted are; Therefore at once I do pronounce, and openly declare, That Heav’n is theirs, that they be Heirs of Life and of Salvation; Nor ever shall they come at all to Death or to Damnation.
XLVIII. [43]
“Come blessed Ones and sit on Thrones, judging the World with me; Come and possess your happiness, and bought felicity; Henceforth no fears, no care, no tears, no sin shall you annoy, Nor any thing that grief doth bring: Eternal Rest enjoy.
_They are placed on Thrones to join with Christ in judging the wicked._
XLIX. [44]
“You bore the Cross, you suffer’d loss of all for my Name’s sake; Receive the Crown that’s now your own; come, and a Kingdom take.“ Thus spake the Judge: the wicked grudge and grind their teeth in vain; They see with groans these plac’d on Thrones, which addeth to their pain:
L. [45]
That those whom they did wrong and slay, must now their Judgment see! Such whom they slighted and once despited, must now their Judges be! Thus ’tis decreed, such is their meed, and guerdon glorious; With Christ they sit, judging it fit to plague the Impious.
_The wicked brought to the Bar._
LI. [46]
The wicked are brought to the Bar. like guilty Malefactors, That oftentimes of bloody Crimes and Treasons have been Actors. Of wicked Men, none are so mean as there to be neglected; Nor none so high in dignity as there to be respected.
LII. [47]
The glorious Judge will privilege nor Emperor nor King; But every one that hath misdone doth unto judgment bring. And every one that hath misdone, the Judge impartially Condemneth to eternal woe, and endless misery.