“It doth agree with Equity   and with God’s holy Law, That those should die eternally   that Death upon them draw. The soul that sins Damnation wins,   for so the Law ordains; Which Law is just; and therefore must   such suffer endless pains. CXLII. [121] “Eternal smart is the desert   ev’n of the least offense; Then wonder not if I allot   to you this Recompense; But wonder more that since so sore   and lasting plagues are due To every sin, you liv’d therein,   who well the danger knew. CXLIII. [122] “God hath no joy to crush or ’stroy,   and ruin wretched wights; But to display the glorious Ray   of Justice he delights. To manifest he doth detest,   and throughly hate all sin, By plaguing it as is most fit—   this shall him Glory win.“ _Some pretend they were shut out of Heaven by God’s Decree._ CXLIV. [123] Some pretend Then at the Bar arraignéd are   an impudenter sort, Who to evade the guilt that’s laid   Upon them, thus retort: “How could we cease thus to transgress?   How could we Hell avoid, Whom God’s Decree shut out from thee,   and sign’d to be destroy’d ? CXLV. [124] “Whom God ordains to endless pains   by Law unalterable, Repentance true, Obedience new,   to such are unable. Sorrow for sin no good can win,   to such as are rejected; Nor can they grieve nor yet believe,   that never were elected. CXLVI. “Of Man’s fall’n race, who can true Grace   or Holiness obtain? Who can convert or change his heart,   if God withhold the same? Had we applied ourselves and tried   as much as who did most, God’s love to gain, our busy pain   and labor bad been lost.“ _Their pleas taken off._ CXLVII. [125] Christ readily makes this Reply:   “I damn you not because You are rejected, nor yet elected;   but you have broke my Laws. It is in vain your wits to strain   the end and means to sever; Men fondly seek to part or break   what God hath link’d together. CXLVIII. [126] “Whom God will save, such he will have   the means of life to use; Whom he’ll pass by shall choose to die,   and ways of life refuse. He that fore-sees and fore-decrees,   in wisdom order’ d has. That man’s free-will, electing ill,   shall bring his Will to pass. CXLIX. [127] “High God’s Decree, as it is free,   so doth it none compel Against their will to good or ill;   it forceth none to Hell. They have their wish whose Souls perish   with Torments in Hell-fire, Who rather choose their souls to lose,   than leave a loose desire. CL. [128] “God did ordain sinners to pain,   yet he to Hell sends none But such as swerv’d and have deserv’d   destruction as their own. His pleasure is, that none from Bliss   and endless happiness Be barr’d, but such as wrong’d him much   by willful wickedness. CLI. [129] “You, sinful Crew! no other knew   but you might be elect; Why did you then yourselves condemn?   Why did you me reject? Where was your strife to gain that life   which lasteth evermore? You never knock’ d, yet say God lock’d   against you Heaven’s door.