“Could you find time for vain pastime,   for loose, licentious mirth? For fruitless toys and fading joys,   that perish in the birth? Had you good leisure for carnal Pleasure,   in days of health and youth? And yet no space to seek God’s face,   and turn to him in truth? CXII. [96] “In younger years, beyond your fears,   what if you were surprized? You put away the evil day,   and of long life devised. You oft were told, and might behold,   that Death no Age doth spare; “Why then did you your time foreslow,   and slight your soul’s welfare? CXIII. [97] “Had your intent been to repent,   and had you it desir’d, There would have been endeavors seen   before your time expir’d. God makes no treasure, nor hath he pleasure   in idle purposes; Such fair pretenses are foul offenses,   and cloaks for wickedness.“ _Some plead examples of their betters._ CXIV. [98] Then were brought in and charg’d with sin,   another Company, Who by Petition obtain’d permission   to make Apology. They argued, “We were misled,   as is well known to thee. By their example that had more ample   abilities than we; CXV. [99] “Such, as profess’d they did detest   and hate each wicked way; Whose seeming grace whilst we did trace,   our Souls were led astray. When men of Parts, Learning, and Arts,   professing Piety, Did thus and thus, it seem’d to us   we might take liberty.“ _Who are told that examples are no Rules._ CXVI. [100] Who are told The Judge replies: “I gave you eyes,   And light to see your way, Which had you lov’d and well improv’d,   you had not gone astray. My Word was pure, the Rule was sure;   Why did you it forsake, Or thereon trample, and men’s example   your Directory make? CXVII. [101] “This you well knew: that God is true,   and that most men are liars, In word professing holiness,   in deed thereof deniers. simple fools! that having Rules,   your lives to regulate. Would them refuse, and rather choose   vile men to imitate.“ _They urge that they were led by godly men’s Examples. But all their shifts turn to their greater shame._ CXVIII. “But, Lord,” say they, “we went astray,   and did more wickedly, By means of those whom thou has chose   Salvation’s heirs to be.“ To whom the Judge: “What you allege   doth nothing help the case, But makes appear how vile you were,   and rend’reth you more base. CXIX. [102] “You understood that what was good,   was to be followed. And that you ought that which was naught   to have relinquished. Contrariwise it was your guise   only to imitate Good men’s defects, and their neglects   who were regenerate. CXX. [103] “But to express their holiness,   or imitate their grace. You little car’d, nor once prepar’d   your hearts to seek my Face. They did repent and truly rent   their hearts for all known sin; You did offend, but not amend,   to follow them therein.“ _Some plead the Scripture’s darkness, and difference among Interpreters._ CXXI. [104]