6

When these are done, as many yet behind 'As leaves of foreft fhaken with the wind? When these are gone, as many to enfue As ftems of grace on hills and dales that grew? When these run out, as many on the march As ftarry lamps that gild the fpangled arch? 'When thefe expire, as many millions more 'As moments in the millions paft before? When all these doleful years are spent in pain, And multiply'd by myriads again, (pofe • Till numbers drown the thought; could I fup"That then my wretched years were at a clofe, This would afford some ease: but, ah! I fhiver To think upon the dreadful found, for ever! The burning gulph, where I blafpheming ly Is time no more, but vaft eternity...

6

The growing torment I endure for fin,
Through ages all is always to begin.
How did 1 but a grain of pleasure fow,
To reap an harveft of immortal wo?
Bound to the bottom of the burning main,. -
Gnawing my chains, I wish for death in vain.
Juft doom! fince I that bear the eternal load'
Contemn'd the death of an eternal God.

• Oh! if the God that curs'd me to the lash,
Would bless me back to nothing with a dashr!
But hopeless I the juft revenger hate, (fate."
Blafpheme the wrathful God, and curfe my
To thefe this word of terror I direct,

Who now the great falvation dare neglect*:.
To all the Chrift-defpifing multitude,

That trample on the great Redeemer's blood
That fce no beauty in his glorious face,
But flight his offers, and refufe his grace...

A meffenger of wrath to none I am,
But thofe that hate to wed the worthy Lamb..
For though the fmalleft fins, if fmall can be, .
Will plunge the Chriftlefs foul in mifery:
Yet, lo! the greatest that to mortals cleave,
Shan't damn the fouls in Jefus that believe;
Because they on the very method fall

That well can make amends to God for all..
Whereas proud fouls, thro' unbelief won't let
The glorious God a reparation get

Of all his honour, in his darling Son,
For all the great difhonours they have done..
A faithlefs foul the glorious God bereaves
Of all the fatisfaction that he craves;
Hence under divine hotteft fury lies,

· And with a double vengeance juftly dies.
The blackeft part of Tophet is their place,
Who flight the tenders of redeeming grace..
That facrilegious monster, Unbelief,

So hard'ned 'gainst remorfe and pious grief,
Robs God of all the glory of his names,
And ev'ry divine attribute defames.
It loudly calls the truth of God a lie;
The God of truth a liar*; horrid cry!
Doubts and denies his precious words of grace,
Spits venom in the royal Suitor's face.
This monfter cannot ceafe all fin to hatch,
Because it proudly mars the happy match.
As each law wedded foul is join'd to fin,
And deftitute of holiness within;

So all that wed the law, muft wed the curfe, Which rent they fcorn to pay with Chrift's full purfe.

* John v. 10.

2

They clear may read their dreadful doom in
Whofe fefter'd fore is final unbelief: (brief,
Though to the law their life exactly fram'd,
For zealous acts and paffions too were fam'd:
Yet lo! He that believes not, shall be damn’df.

But now 'tis proper, on the other fide,
With words of comfort to address the bride.
She in her glorious Hufband does poffefs
Adorning grace, acquitting righteousness.
And hence to her pertain the golden mines
Of comfort op'ned in the following lines.

John iii. 18.

GOSPEL SONNETS.

PART II.

The BELIEVER'S JOINTURE;

The POEM continued

Upon ISAIAH liv. 5. Thy Maker is thy Hufband.

N. B. The following lines being primarily intended for the use and edification of piously-exercised fouls, and especially thofe of a more common and ordinary capacity; the author thought fit, through the whole of this fecond part of the book, to continue, as in the former editions, to repeat that part of the text, Thy Hufband, in the last line of every verfe: becaufe, however it tended to li mit him, and reftrict his liberty of words in the compofition, yet having ground to judge, that this appropriating compellation ftill refumed, has rendered thefe lines formerly the more favoury to fome exercifed Chriftians, to whom the name of CHRIST (particularly as their Head and Hufband) is as ointment poured forth: he chofe rather to subject himself to that restriction, than to with-bold what may tend to the Jatisfaction and comfort of thofe to whom CHRIST is all in all; and to whom his name, as their Husband, fo many various ways applied, will be no naufens repetition.

CHAP. I.

Containing the PRIVILEGES of the Believer that is espoused to CHRIST by faith of divine operation.

SECT L

The BELIEVER's perfect beauty, free acceptance, amd full fecurity, through the imputation of CHRIST's perfect righteousness, though imparted grace be imperfect.

Happy foul, JEHOVAH's bride,
The Lamb's beloved spouse;

Strong confolation's flowing tide,
Thy Husband thee allows.

In thee, though like thy father's race,
By nature black as hell;

Yet now fo beautify'd by grace,

Thy Hufband loves to dwell.
Fair as the moon thy robes appear,
While graces are in drefs:
Clear as the fun*, while found to wear
Thy Hufband's righteousness.
Thy moon-like graces, changing much,
Have here and there a fpot;

Thy fun-like glory is not fuch,

Thy Hufband changes not.
Thy white and ruddy vefture fair,
Outvies the rofy leaf;

For 'mong ten thousand beauties rare

Thy Hufband is the chief.