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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Day of Doom;
Or, A Poetical Description of the Great and Last
Judgment
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
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you are located before using this eBook.
Title: The Day of Doom; Or, A Poetical Description of the Great and
Last Judgment
Author: Michael Wigglesworth
Contributor: John Ward Dean
Cotton Mather
Release date: January 18, 2019 [eBook #58716]
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Bryan Ness, Chris Pinfield, high-res image
from TIA: American Libraries and the Online Distributed
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from the Google Books project.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DAY OF DOOM;
OR, A POETICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT AND LAST JUDGMENT ***
Transcriber's Note:
Apparent typographical errors
have been corrected.
The Table of Contents has
been shifted to follow the title
pages.
Lines in black-letter font, on
the title page, have been
bolded.
The sidenotes to the "Day of
Doom" mostly comprise
Scriptural references, but also
include general comments on
some of the verses. The latter
have been shifted to follow the
verse number.
The use of acute accents and
hyphens in the poems is
explained in the Note at the
end of the Autobiography.
THE
DAY of DOOM
OR, A
POETICAL DESCRIPTION
OF THE
GREAT AND LAST
J U D G M E N T:
With Other Poems.
BY
MICHAEL WIGGLESWORTH, A.M.,
Teacher of the Church at Malden in New England,
1662.
ALSO A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR,
AUTOBIOGRAPHY,
AND SKETCH OF HIS FUNERAL SERMON BY
REV. COTTON MATHER.
Acts 17:31. Because he hath appointed a
Day in the which he will judge the World in
Righteousness by that Man whom he hath
ordained.
Mat. 24:30. And then shall appear the
sign of the Son of Man in Heaven, and then
shall all the tribes of the Earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of Man coming in the
clouds of Heaven with power and great
glory.
FROM THE SIXTH EDITION, 1715
New York:
AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY.
1867.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of
our Lord, 1867, by
WM. HENRY BURR,
in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United
States, for
the Southern District of New York.
C.S. Westcott & Co., Printers, 79 John street.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Memoir of the Author 3
Autobiography 10
To the Christian Reader 13
On the following Work 18
Prayer unto Christ 20
The Day of Doom 21
Security of the World before Christ's coming 21
Suddenness and Terror of his appearing 22
Resurrection—All brought to judgment 26
The Sheep separated from the goats 27
The several sorts of reprobates described 28
The Saints justified—Election—Atonement 32
They are placed on thrones 34
The wicked brought to the Bar 35
Secret sins brought to light 38
Hypocrites plead for themselves 40
Another sort of hypocrites 44
Civil honest men's pleas 47
Pretended want of opportunity to repent 51
Plea of examples of betters 53
Godly men's examples misleading 54
Scripture, darkness, and difference of interpretation 55
Fear of persecution 56
Plea of God's mercy and justice 58
Vessels of mercy 59
Mercy abused—Day of grace past 60
Shutting out by God's decree 62
The Heathen's plea 66
Reprobate infants' plea 68
The wicked all convinced and silenced 72
Hopeless and helpless estate of the ungodly 73
Sentence of condemnation 78
Sentence executed—The wicked cast into Hell 80
Their Insufferable torments 81
The saints rejoice thereat 83
They ascend in triumph to Heaven 84
A Short discourse on Eternity 87
A Postscript unto the Reader 93
Vanity of Vanities 107
Death expected 111
A Farewell to the World 112
Funeral Sermon 115
Epitaph 119
MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR
The following is the substance of an article published in the "New
England Historical and Genealogical Register," for April, 1863, written by
John Ward Dean, Esq., of Boston:
A century ago no poetry was more popular in New England than
Wigglesworth's Day of Doom. Francis Jenks, Esq., in an article in the
Christian Examiner for Nov., 1828, speaks of it as "a work which was
taught our fathers with their catechisms; and which many an aged person
with whom we are acquainted can still repeat, though they may not have
met with a copy since they were in leading strings; a work that was
hawked about the country, printed on sheets like common ballads; and, in
fine, a work which fairly represents the prevailing theology of New
England at the time it was written, and which Mather thought might,
'perhaps, find our children till the Day itself arrives.'"
The popularity of Wigglesworth dated from the appearance of his poem,
and continued for more than a century. Expressing in earnest words the
theology which they believed, and picturing in lively colors the terrors of
the judgment day and the awful wrath of an offended God, it commended
itself to those zealous Puritans, who had little taste for lofty rhyme or
literary excellence. The imaginative youth devoured its horrors with
avidity, and shuddered at its fierce denunciation of sin. In the darkness of
night he saw its frightful forms arise, and was thus driven to seek the "ark
of safety" from the wrath of Jehovah. For the last century, however, the
reputation of the Day of Doom has waned, and few at the present day
know it except by reputation.
The author of this book, whose wand had summoned up such images of
terror, was neither a cynic nor a misanthrope, though sickness, which
generally brings out these dispositions where they exist, had long been his
doom. His attenuated frame and feeble health were joined to genial
manners; and, though subject to fits of despondency, he seems generally
to have maintained a cheerful temper, so much so that some of his friends
believed his ills to be imaginary.
Rev. Michael Wigglesworth was born October 28, 1631, probably in
Yorkshire, England. He was brought to this country in 1638, being then
seven years old, but in what ship we are not informed. His father, Edward
Wigglesworth, was one of those resolute Puritans who, with their families,
found an asylum where they could enjoy their religion without molestation
in our then New England wilderness, the distance of which from their
English homes can hardly be appreciated now. Here they suffered the
severe hardships of a rigorous climate, and the fearful dangers from
savage tribes around them, while uniting to build up villages which are
now cities, and which still retain some of the characteristics of their
Puritan founders. The determined purpose and strength of principle that
conquered every obstacle was a school of severe training for the children
of that period. It was natural that a father who had endured so much for
conscience' sake should desire to see his only son a clergyman; and,
although the father's means were not large, the son was devoted to the
ministry and given a thorough education. Michael, after nearly three years
of preparatory studies, entered Harvard College in 1647. Here he had the
good fortune to have for a tutor the excellent Jonathan Mitchell, "the glory
of the college," and famous as a preacher. The friendship here begun
appears to have continued after both had left the college walls. Probably
the eight stanzas "on the following work and its author," signed J. Mitchel,
were written by that tutor and preacher, who was a native of Yorkshire,
the county in which Wigglesworth is believed to have been born.
In 1651 Mr. Wigglesworth graduated, and was soon after appointed a
tutor in the College. Some of his pupils were men of note in their day.
Among them were, Rev. Shubael Dummer, of York, Me.; Rev. John Eliot, of
Newton; and Rev. Samuel Torry, of Weymouth; but the chief of them, it
will be admitted, was Rev. Increase Mather, D.D., pastor of the second
church in Boston, and for sixteen years president of Harvard College. That
the tutor was faithful to his trust, we have evidence from the sketch of the
funeral sermon appended to this work, preached by Rev. Cotton Mather,
D.D., son of Increase, who probably derived his information from his
father.
While a tutor, he prepared himself for the ministry, and before his
father's death he had preached several times. He was invited, probably in
the autumn of 1654, to settle at Malden, as the successor of Rev.
Marmaduke Matthews, but owing to long-continued sickness was not
ordained there till 1656. The precise date of his ordination is not known,
but it must have been subsequent to August 25, 1656, for his letter of
dismission from the church at Cambridge bears that date. This letter,
addressing the "Church of Christ at Maldon," states that "the good hand of
Divine Providence hath so disposed that our beloved and highly esteemed
brother, Mr. Wigglesworth, hath his residence and is employed in the good
work of yᵉ Lord amongst you, and hath cause to desire of us Letters
Dismissive to your church, in order to his joining as a member with you."
The ill health which had delayed his ordination at Malden returned soon
after his settlement there, and interrupted his ministry several years. He
took a voyage to Bermuda, sailing Sept. 23, 1663, and being absent about
seven months and a half. But the tedious and stormy voyage seems to
have impaired his health so much that the change of climate afforded him
little relief, and he returned much discouraged. He met with a very cordial
welcome from his friends and parishioners.
While he was thus withheld from his ministry, he employed his time in
literary labors. His Day of Doom was published about 1662, the year
before his voyage to Bermuda. The first edition consisting of 1,800 copies,
was sold, with some profit to the author, within a year, which considering
the population and wealth of New England at that time, shows almost as
remarkable a popularity as that of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
While absent on his voyage in search of health, Dec. 9, 1663, Rev.
Benjamin Bunker was ordained pastor of the church at Malden. It seems
that a distinction was observed at this time in New England between
pastor and teacher. Wigglesworth calls Bunker "pastor" in some verses
composed on his death, while on the title-page of this work he calls
himself "teacher." After Wigglesworth became sole minister, he was
probably considered the pastor. Bunker held this office over six years, till
his death, Feb. 3, 1669-70. In the elegy on the death of his colleague,
Wigglesworth highly extols Bunker's piety and usefulness. The next
colleague of our author was Rev. Benjamin Blackman, settled about 1674.
He supplied the desk four years and upward, and left in the year 1679. His
next colleague was Rev. Thomas Cheever, son of his early teacher, the
celebrated New England schoolmaster, Ezekiel Cheever, author of Latin
Accidence. These three ministers were all educated at Harvard College,
Bunker having graduated in 1658, Blackman in 1663, and Cheever in
1677. Mr. Cheever began to preach at Malden Feb. 14, 1679-80, was
ordained July 27, 1681, and was dismissed May 20, 1686.
Wigglesworth, though long prevented by sickness from officiating, never
resigned his ministerial charge, as appears from a letter which he
addressed to Samuel Sprague, July 22, 1687. He was now left alone as
minister of the church. He had, however, recovered his health in a
measure about this time, which had suffered for nearly twenty years, and
for the remainder of his life he continued in public usefulness.
He died on Sunday morning, June 10, 1705, in the 74th year of his age.
The epitaph on the last page of this work is believed to have been written
by Cotton Mather, as it appears in the appendix to his funeral sermon as
by "one that had been gratified by his Meat out of the Eater and Day of
Doom."
Mr. Wigglesworth had at least three wives: Mary, daughter of Humphrey
Reyner, of Rowley; Martha, whose maiden name was probably Mudge;
and Sybil, widow of Dr. Jonathan Avery, of Dedham, and daughter of
Nathaniel Sparhawk, of Cambridge.
By his first wife he had (1) Mercy, b. Feb., 1655-6; m. 1st, [Samuel?] Brackenbury, by
whom she had at least one son, William; m. 2d, [Rev. Samuel?] Belcher.
By his second wife, Martha, who d. 11th Sept., 1690, a. 28, he had:—(2) Abigail, b.
20th March, 1681; m. Samuel Tappan, 23d Dec., 1700;—(3) Mary, b. 21st Sept., 1682;
unm. in 1708;—(4) Martha, b. 21st Dec., 1683; m. —— Wheeler;—(5) Esther, b. 16th
April, 1685; m. 1st, John Sewall, June 8, 1708, who d. 1711; m. 2d, Abraham Tappan,
Oct. 21, 1713;—(6) Dorothy, b. 22d Feb., 1687-88; m. 2d June, 1709, James Upham;—
(7) Rev. Samuel, b. 4th Feb., 1689-90, d. 3d Sept., 1768.
By his third wife, Sybil, who d. 6th Aug., 1708, a. 53, he had:—(8) Prof. Edward, D.D.,
b. about 1692, d. Jan. 16, 1765.
Rev. Samuel Wigglesworth, the elder son, was settled in Hamilton Parish, in Ipswich,
Mass., in 1714. He m. 1st, Mary, dau. of John Brintnal, of Winnisimmet, 30th June, 1715,
who d. June 6 1723, a. 28, having borne him four children, Mary, Michael, Martha and
Phebe. He m. March 12, 1730, Martha Brown, and had nine children.
Edward Wigglesworth, D.D., the younger son, took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in
1710, and applied himself to the study of Divinity. He preached for some time in different
parishes, and in 1722 was installed Hollis Professor of Divinity of Harvard College. Not
long afterward he was chosen one of the fellows of the corporation. He left an only son,
who succeeded him as Hollis Professor in the same college, and an only surviving
daughter, who married Prof. Sewall.
The following are the various editions of the Day of Doom, so far as we
have been able to ascertain:
The first edition was published in 1661 or 1662, and the second four
years after. These facts are obtained from memoranda by the author,
which are printed in the Historical Magazine for December, 1863. An
edition was printed in London, England, without the author's name, in
1673. This was, probably, the third impression; the date of the fourth is
unknown. The fifth edition is said to have been published in 1701. Mr.
Dean has made diligent search and repeated inquiries, but can only find
two or three copies of the edition of 1673, and several fragments which
must have been parts of some of the other editions.
There was an edition published at Newcastle, in England, in 1711. The
next edition was published in 1715, called "the 6th edition, enlarged, with
Scripture and marginal notes"—"printed by John Allen, for Benjamin Eliot,
at his shop in King street." From this edition, which was evidently the
seventh, the present one is reprinted, being carefully compared with that
of 1673. Another edition appeared in 1751, "Printed and sold by Thomas
Fleet, at the Heart and Crown, in Cornhill," Boston. The next edition
appeared in 1811, "Published by E. Little & Company, Newburyport,"
Mass. The last edition, prior to the present, was published in Boston in
1828, by Charles Ewer.
Besides the Day of Doom, Mr. Wigglesworth published, in 1669, "Meat
out of the Eater; or, Meditations concerning the necessity and usefulness
of Afflictions unto God's Children." The "fourth edition" appeared in 1689,
and subsequent editions in 1717 and 1770. In 1686 he preached an
Election Sermon, which was printed by the colony. Among his unpublished
writings is a poem entitled "God's Controversy with New England, written
in the time of the great Drought, Anno 1662. By a lover of New England's
prosperity."
Mr. Wigglesworth borrowed little from other poets, and what he
borrowed was probably from the commentaries and theological treatises
with which his library abounded, rather than from the poets. Not that his
style is wholly prosaic, for there are passages in his writings that are truly
poetical, both in thought and expression, and which show that he was
capable of attaining a higher position as a poet than can now be claimed
for him. The roughness of his verses was surely not owing to carelessness
or indolence, for neither of them was characteristic of the man. The true
explanation may be, that he sacrificed his poetical taste to his theology,
and that, for the sake of inculcating sound doctrine, he was willing to
write in halting numbers.
The author of the Day of Doom, belonging to the straitest sect of
Puritans, was, like many others of that sect, a man of generous feeling
toward his fellows. Rev. Dr. Peabody calls him "a man of the beatitudes."
Obedience to the supreme law gave a heavenly lustre to his example and
a sweet fragrance to his memory. The clergy of his day possessed a deep
religious earnestness and a fervent piety. They were Bible students and
men of prayer. Even many who consider them erroneous in doctrine, are
willing to allow that they were strict in morals; that, if they were wrong in
faith, they were right in life; that, if their creed was opaque, their hearts
were luminous; and that, if their vision did not discern the additional light
which the saintly Robinson had prophesied was yet to break forth from
God's Word, they sincerely accepted the light they saw. They were
patient, hopeful, humble, believing, faithful. They stood on a higher plane
than their successors, and exercised a proportionally higher power over
their hearers. Their people revered them, were constant in attendance on
their services, and submitted gladly to their sway.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
I was born of Godly Parents, that feared yᵉ Lord greatly, even from their youth, but in
an ungodly Place, where yᵉ generality of yᵉ people rather derided than imitated their
piety; in a place where, to my knowledge, their children had Learnt wickedness betimes;
in a place that was consumed with fire in a great part of it, after God had brought them
out of it. These godly parents of mine meeting with opposition and persecution for
Religion, because they went from their own Parish church to hear yᵉ word and Receiv yᵉ
Lords supper &c, took up resolutions to pluck up their stakes and remove themselves to
New England: and accordingly they did so, Leaving dear Relations, friends and
acquaintance, their native Land, a new built house, a flourishing Trade, to expose
themselves to yᵉ hazzard of yᵉ seas, and to yᵉ Distressing difficulties of a howling
wilderness, that they might enjoy Liberty of Conscience and Christ in his ordinances. And
the Lord brought them hither and Landed them at Charlstown, after many difficulties and
hazzards, and me along with them, being then a child not full seven years old. After
about 7 weeks stay at Charlstown, my parents removed again by sea to New Haven in yᵉ
month of October. In our passage thither we were in great Danger by a storm which
drove us upon a Beach of sand where we lay beating til another Tide fetcht us off; but
God carried us to our port in safety. Winter approaching we dwelt in a cellar partly under
ground covered with earth the first winter. But I remember that one great rain brake in
upon us and drencht me so in my bed, being asleep, that I fell sick upon it; but yᵉ Lord in
mercy spar'd my life and restored my health. When yᵉ next summer was come I was sent
to school to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, who at that time taught school in his own house, and
under him in a year or two I profited so much through yᵉ blessing of God, that I began to
make Latin and to get forward apace. But God who is infinitely wise and absolutely
soverain, and gives no account concerning any of his proceedings, was pleased about this
time to visit my father with Lameness which grew upon him more and more to his dying
Day, though he liv'd under it 13 years. He wanting help was fain to take me off from
school to follow other employments for yᵉ space of 3 or 4 years, until I had lost all that I
had gained in the Latin Tongue. But when I was now in my fourteenth year, my Father,
who I suppose was not wel satisfied in keeping me from Learning whereto I had been
designed from my infancy, and not judging me fit for husbandry, sent me to school again,
though at that time I had little or no disposition to it, but I was willing to submit to his
authority therein and accordingly I went to school under no small disadvantage and
discouragement, seing those that were far inferior to me, by my discontinuance now
gotten far before me. But in a little time it appeared to be of God, who was pleased to
facilitate my work and bless my studies that I soon recovered what I had lost, and gained
a great deal more, so that in 2 years and 3 quarters I was judged fit for yᵉ Colledge and
thither I was sent far from my parents and acquaintance among strangers. But when
father and mother both forsook me then yᵉ Lord took care of me. It was an act of great
self denial in my father that notwithstanding his own lameness and great weakness of
Body which required yᵉ service and helpfulness of a son, and having but one son to be yᵉ
staff of his age and supporter of his weakness, he would yet for my good, be content to
deny himself of that comfort and Assistance I might have Lent him. It was also an
evident proof of a strong Faith in him, in that he durst adventure to send me to yᵉ
Colledge, though his estate was but small and little enough to maintain himself and small
family left at home. And God let him Live to see how acceptable to himself this service
was in giving up his only son to yᵉ Lord and bringing him up to Learning; especially yᵉ
Lively actings of his faith and self denial herein. For first, notwithstanding his great
weakness of body, yet he Lived til I was so far brought up as that I was called to be a
fellow of yᵉ Colledge and improved in Publick service there, and until I had preached
several Times; yea and more than so, he Lived to see and hear what God had done for
my soul in turning me from Darkness to light and from yᵉ power of Sathan unto God,
which filled his heart full of joy and thankfulness beyond what can be expressed. And for
his outward estate, that was so far from being sunk by what he spent from year to year
upon my education, that in 6 years time it was plainly doubled, which himself took great
notice of, and spake of it to myself and others, to yᵉ praise of God, with Admiration and
thankfulness. And after he had lived under great and sore affliction for yᵉ space of 13
years a pattern of faith, patience, humility, and heavenly mindedness, having done his
work in my education and receiv'd an answer to his prayers, God took him to his
Heavenly Rest, where he is now reaping yᵉ fruits of his Labors. When I came first to yᵉ
Colledge, I had indeed enjoyed yᵉ benefit of Religious and strict education, and God in
his mercy and pitty kept me from scandalous sins before I came thither and after I came
there, but alas I had a naughty vile heart and was acted by corrupt nature, therefore
could propound no Right and noble ends, but acted from self and for self. I was indeed
studious and strove to outdoe my compeers, but it was for honour and applause and
preferment and such poor Beggarly ends. Thus I had my Ends and God had his Ends far
differing from mine, yet it pleased him to Bless my studies, and to make me grow in
Knowledge both in yᵉ tongues and inferior Arts and also in Divinity. But when I had been
there about three years and a half; God in his Love and Pitty to my soul wrought a great
change in me, both in heart and Life, and from that time forward I learnt to study with
God and for God. And whereas before that, I had thoughts of applying myself to yᵉ study
and Practice of Physick, I wholy laid aside those thoughts, and did chuse to serve Christ
in yᵉ work of yᵉ ministry if he would please to fit me for it and to accept of my service in
that great work.
Note.—In the foregoing Autobiography the original spelling is retained. In the following
poems the spelling is modernized. The use of the acute accent (´) to indicate the former
pronunciation of the final ed as a separate syllable will be obvious; in other exceptional
cases the old apostrophe is retained. In a few instances the termination tion is divided by
a hyphen, to indicate its pronunciation as two syllables (she-on). The modern double
commas are also used to mark quotations.
W. H. B.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
Reader, I am a fool,
And have adventuréd
To play the fool this once for Christ,
The more his fame to spread.
If this my foolishness
Help thee to be more wise,
I have attainéd what I seek,
And what I only prize.
Thou wonderest, perhaps,
That I in Print appear,
Who to the Pulpit dwell so nigh,
Yet come so seldom there.
The God of Heaven knows
What grief to me it is,
To be withheld from serving Christ;
No sorrow like to this.
This is the sorest pain
That I have felt or feel;
Yet have I stood some shocks that might
Make stronger men to reel.
I find more true delight
In serving of the Lord,
Than all the good things upon Earth,
Without it, can afford.
And could my strength endure
That work I count so dear,
Not all the Riches of Peru
Should hire me to forbear.
But I'm a Prisoner,
Under a heavy Chain;
Almighty God's afflicting hand
Doth me by force restrain.
Yet some (I know) do judge
Mine inability
To come abroad and do Christ's work,
To be Melancholly;
And that I'm not so weak
d t at ot so ea
As I myself conceit:
But who in other things have found
Me so conceited yet?
Or who of all my Friends
That have my trials seen,
Can tell the time in sevén years
When I have dumpish been?
Some think my voice is strong,
Most times when I do Preach;
But ten days after, what I feel
And suffer few can reach.
My prison'd thoughts break forth,
When open'd is the door,
With greater force and violence,
And strain my voice the more.
But vainly do they tell
That I am growing stronger,
Who hear me speak in half an hour,
Till I can speak no longer.
Some for because they see not
My cheerfulness to fail,
Nor that I am disconsolate,
Do think I nothing ail.
If they had borne my griefs,
Their courage might have fail'd them,
And all the Town (perhaps) have known
(Once and again) what ail'd them.
But why should I complain
That have so good a God,
That doth mine heart with comfort fill
Ev'n whilst I feel his Rod?
In God I have been strong,
But wearied and worn out,
And joy'd in him, when twenty woes
Assail'd me round about.
Nor speak I this to boast,
But make Apology
But make Apology
For mine own self, and answer those
That fail in Charity.
I am, alas! as frail,
Impatiént a creature,
As most that tread upon the ground,
And have as bad a nature.
Let God be magnified,
Whose everlasting strength
Upholds me under sufferings
Of more than ten years' length;
Through whose Almighty pow'r
Although I am surrounded
With sorrows more than can be told,
Yet am I not confounded.
For his dear sake have I
This service undertaken,
For I am bound to honor him
Who hath not me forsaken.
I am a Debtor too,
Unto the sons of Men,
Whom, wanting other means, I would
Advantage with my Pen.
I would, but ah! my strength,
When triéd, proves so small,
That to the ground without effect
My wishes often fall.
Weak heads, and hands, and states,
Great things cannot produce;
And therefore I this little Piece
Have publish'd for thine use.
Although the thing be small,
Yet my good will therein,
Is nothing less than if it had
A larger Volume been.
Accept it then in love,
And read it for thy good;
There's nothing in't can do thee hurt,
g ,
If rightly understood.
The God of Heaven grant
These Lines so well to speed,
That thou the things of thine own peace
Through them may'st better heed;
And may'st be stirréd up
To stand upon thy guard,
That Death and Judgment may not come
And find thee unprepar'd.
Oh get a part in Christ,
And make the Judge thy Friend;
So shalt thou be assuréd of
A happy, glorious end.
Thus prays thy real Friend
And Servant for Christ's sake,
Who, had he strength, would not refuse
More pains for thee to take.
Michael Wigglesworth.
ON THE FOLLOWING WORK AND ITS AUTHOR.
A verse may find him who a sermon flies,
Saith Herbert well. in Meter,
Becomes a Preacher, who men's Souls doth prize,
That Truth in Sugar roll'd may taste the sweeter.
No cost too great, no care too curious is
To set forth Truth and win men's Souls to bliss.
In costly Verse, and most laborious Rhymes,
Are dish'd up here Truths worthy most regard:
No Toys, nor Fables (Poets' wonted crimes)
Here be, but things of worth, with wit prepar'd.
Reader, fall to, and if thy taste be good,
Thou'lt praise the Cook, and say, 'Tis choicest Food.
David's affliction bred us many a Psalm,
From Caves, from mouth of Graves that Singer sweet
Oft tun'd his Soul-felt notes: for not in 's calm,
But storms, to write most Psalms God made him meet.
Affliction turn'd his Pen to Poetry,
Whose serious strains do here before thee lie.
This man with many griefs afflicted sore,
Shut up from speaking much in sickly Cave,
Thence painful seizure hath to write the more,
And send thee Counsels from the mouth o' th' Grave.
One foot i' th' other world long time hath been,
Read, and thou'lt say, His heart is all therein.
Oh, happy Cave, that's to mount Nebo turn'd!
Oh, happy prisoner that's at liberty
To walk through th' other World! the Bonds are burn'd,
(But nothing else) in Furnace fiéry.
Such fires unfetter Saints, and set more free
Their unscorch'd Souls for Christ's sweet company.
Cheer on, sweet Soul, although in briny tears
Steept is thy seed; though dying every day;
Thy sheaves shall joyful be when Christ appears,
To change our death and pain to life for aye.
The weepers now shall laugh; the jovial laughter
Of vain ones here shall turn to tears hereafter.
Judge right, and his restraint is our Reproof.
The Sins of Hearers Preachers' Lips do close,
And make their Tongue to cleave unto its roof,
Which else would check and cheer full freely those
That need. But from this Eater comes some Meat.
And sweetness good from this affliction great.
In those vast Woods a Christian Poet sings
(Where whilom Heathen wild were only found)
Of things to come, the last and greatest things
Which in our Ears aloud should ever sound.
Of Judgment dread, Hell, Heaven, Eternity,
Reader, think oft, and help thy thoughts thereby.
J. Mitchel.
A PRAYER
UNTO
CHRIST THE JUDGE OF THE WORLD.
O Dearest, Dread, most glorious King!
I'll of thy justest Judgments sing:
Do thou my head and heart inspire,
To Sing aright, as I desire.
Thee, thee alone I'll invocate,
For I do much abominate
To call the Muses to mine aid:
Which is th' Unchristian use and trade
Of some that Christians would be thought,
And yet they worship worse than naught.
Oh! what a deal of Blasphemy,
And Heathenish Impiety,
In Christian Poets may be found,
Where Heathen gods with praise are crown'd!
They make Jehovah to stand by
Till Juno, Venus, Mercury,
With frowning Mars, and thund'ring Jove,
Rule Earth below, and Heav'n above.
But I have learn'd to pray to none,
Save unto God in Christ alone.
Nor will I laud, no, not in jest,
That which I know God doth detest.
I reckon it a damning evil,
To give God's Praises to the Devil.
Thou, Christ, art he to whom I pray;
Thy Glory fain I would display.
Oh! guide me by thy sacred Sprite,
So to indite, and so to write,
That I thine holy Name may praise,
And teach the Sons of Men thy ways.
THE
DAY OF DOOM.
I.
The security of the World before Christ's
coming to judgment.
Still was the night, serene and bright,
ke 12:19. when all Men sleeping lay;
Calm was the season, and carnal reason
thought so 'twould last for aye.
"Soul, take thine ease, let sorrow cease;
much good thou hast in store:"
This was their Song, their Cups among,
the evening before.
II.
Wallowing in all kind of Sin,
vile Wretches lay secure;
The best of men had scarcely then
their Lamps kept in good ure.
Virgins unwise, who through disguise
t. 25:5. amongst the best were number'd,
Had clos'd their eyes; yea, and the Wise
through sloth and frailty slumber'd.
III.
Like as of old, when men grew bold,
God's threat'nings to contemn,
Who stopt their Ear, and would not hear
t. 24:37, 38. when Mercy warnéd them,
But took their course, without remorse,
till God began to pour
Destructi-on the World upon,
in a tempestuous show'r;
IV.
Thes. 5:3. Who put away the evil day,
and drown'd their cares and fears,
Till drown'd were they, and swept away
by vengeance unawares;
