Michael Wigglesworth (1631-1705) on the Last Judgment and Grace Refused

LI.

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.

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.

LIII.

Thus one and all, thus great and small,
    the Rich as well as Poor,
And those of place, as the most base,
    do stand the Judge before.
They are arraign'd, and there detain'd
    before Christ's Judgment seat,
With trembling fear their Doom to hear,
    and feel his Anger's heat.

LIV.

There Christ demands at all their hands
    a strict and straight account
Of all things done under the Sun,
    whose number far surmount
Man's wit and thought: they all are brought
    unto this solemn Trial,
And each offense with evidence,
    so that there's no denial.

LV.

There's no excuse for their abuse,
    since their own Consciences
More proof give in of each Man's sin,
    than thousand Witnesses.
Though formerly this faculty
    had grossly been abused,
(Men could it stifle, or with it trifle,
    when as it them accused,)

LVI.

Now it comes in, and every sin
    unto Men's charge doth lay;
It judgeth them and doth condemn,
    though all the World say nay.
It so stingeth and tortureth,
    it worketh such distress,
That each Man's self against himself,
    is forced to confess.

LVII.

It's vain, moreover, for Men to cover
    the least Iniquity;
The Judge hath seen, and privy been
    to all their villainy.
He unto light and open sight
    the work of darkness brings;
He doth unfold both new old,
    both known and hidden things.

LVIII.

All filthy facts and secret acts,
    however closely done,
And long conceal'd, are there reveal'd
    before the mid-day Sun.
Deeds of the night, shunning the light,
    which darkest corners sought,
To fearful blame, and endless shame,
    are there most justly brought.

LIX.

And as all facts, and grosser acts,
    so every word and thought,
Erroneous notion and lustful motion,
    are unto Judgment brought.
No Sin so small and trivial,
    but hither it must come;
Nor so long past but now at last
    it must receive a doom.

LX.

At this sad season, Christ asks a Reason
    (with just austerity)
Of Grace refus'd, of light abus'd
    so oft, so wilfully;
Of Talents lent, by them misspent
    and on their Lust bestown,
Which if improv'd as it behoov'd
    Heav'n might have been their own;

LXI.

Of times neglected, of means rejected,
    of God's long-suffering
And Patience, to Penitence
    that sought hard hearts to bring;
Why chords of love did nothing move,
    to shame or to remorse?
Why warnings grave, and counsels, have
    naught chang'd their sinful course?

LXII.

Why chastenings, and evils things,
    why judgments so severe,
Prevailed not with them a jot,
    nor wrought an awful fear?
Why promises of Holiness,
    and new Obedience,
They oft did make, but always brake
    the same, to God's offense?

LXIII.

Why still Hell-ward, without regard,
    they bold ventured,
And chose Damnation before Salvation,
    when it was offered?
Why sinful pleasures and earthly treasures,
    like fools, they prized more
Than Heav'nly wealth, Eternal health,
    and all Christ's Royal store?

LXIV.

Why, when he stood off'ring his Blood
    to wash them from their sin,
They would embrace no saving Grace,
    but liv'd and died therein?
Such aggravations, where no evasions,
    nor false pretences hold,
Exaggerate and cumulate
    guilt more than can be told.

Michael Wigglesworth, The Day of Doom, Or, A Poetical Description of the Great and Last Judgment (New York: American News Company, 1867), pp. 35-39.

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