CLII. [130] “’Twas no vain task to knock and ask,   whilst life continued. Who ever sought Heav’n as he ought,   and seeking perished? The lowly, meek, who truly seek   for Christ and for Salvation, There’s no decree whereby such be   ordain’d to condemnation. CLIII. [131]  You argue then: ’But abject men,   whom God resolves to spill, Cannot repent, nor their hearts rent;   nor can they change their will.’ Not for his _Can_ is any man   adjudgéd unto Hell, But for his _Will_ to do what’s ill,   and nilling to do well. CLIV. “I often stood tend’ring my Blood   to wash away your guilt, And eke my Sprite to frame you right,   lest your Souls should be spilt. But you, vile Race, rejected Grace,   when Grace was freely proflfer’d, No changed heart, no heav’nly part   would you, when it was offer’ d. CLV. [132] “Who willfully the remedy,   and means of life contemned. Cause have the same themselves to blame,   if now they be condemnéd. You have yourselves, you and none else,  to blame that you must die You chose the way to your decay,   and perish’d willfully.“ CLVI. These words appall and daunt them all,   dismay’d and all amort. Like stocks that stand at Christ’s left hand   and dare no more retort. Then were brought near with trembling fear,   a number numberless, Of Blind Heathen and brutish men,   that did God’s Law transgress; _Heathen men plead want of the Written Word._ CLVII. Whose wicked ways Christ open lays,   and makes their sins appear, They making pleas their case to ease,   if not themselves to clear. “Thy Written Word,” say they, “good   we never did enjoy; We ne’er refus’d, nor it abus’d;   Oh, do not us destroy!“ CLVIII. [133] “You ne’er abus’d, nor yet refus’d   my Written Word, you plead; That’s true," quoth he, “therefore shall ye   the less be punishéd. You shall not smart for any part   of other men’s offense, But for your own transgressi-on   receive due recompense.“ _Insufficiency of the light of Nature._ CLIX. “But we were blind,” say they, “in mind;   too dim was Nature’s Light, Our only guide, as hath been tried,   to bring us to the sight Of our estate degenerate,   and curs’d by Adam’s Fa’l; How we were born and lay forlorn   in bondage and in thrall. CLX. [134] “We did not know a Christ till now,   nor how fall’n men be saved, Else would we not, right well we wot,   have so ourselves behaved. “We should have mourn’d, we should have turn’d   from sin at thy Reproof, And been more wise through thy advice,   for our own soul’s behoof. _They are answered._ CLXI. “But Nature’s light shin’d not so bright   to teach us the right way: We might have lov’d it and well improv’d it,   and yet have gone astray.“ The Judge most High makes this Reply:   “You ignorance pretend. Dimness of sight, and want of light,   your course Heav’nward to bend. CLXII. [135]