_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. [Sidenote: The security of the World before Christ's coming to judgment. Luke 12:19.] Still was the night, serene and bright, 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. [Sidenote: Mat. 25:5.] 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 amongst the best were number'd, Had clos'd their eyes; yea, and the Wise through sloth and frailty slumber'd. III. [Sidenote: Mat. 24:37, 38.] Like as of old, when men grew bold, God's threat'nings to contemn, Who stopt their Ear, and would not hear 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. [Sidenote: 1 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; So at the last, whilst men sleep fast in their security, Surpris'd they are in such a snare As cometh suddenly. V. [Sidenote: The suddenness, Majesty, and Terror of Christ's appearing. Mat. 25:6. 2 Pet. 3:10.] For at midnight breaks forth a light, which turns the night to day, And speedily an hideous cry doth all the World dismay. Sinners awake, their hearts do ache, trembling their loins surpriseth; Amaz'd with fear, by what they hear, each one of them ariseth. VI. [Sidenote: Mat. 24:29, 30.]