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. [Sidenote: Rom. 2:4, 5.] Of times neglected, of means rejected, of God's long-suffering And Pati-ence, 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. [Sidenote: Isa. 1:5. Jer. 2:20.] Why chastenings, and evils things, why judgments so severe, Prevailéd 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. [Sidenote: John 3:19, etc. Prov. 8:36. Luke 12:20, 21.] Why still Hell-ward, without regard, they bold venturéd, And chose Damnation before Salvation, when it was offeréd? Why sinful pleasures and earthly treasures, like fools, they prizéd more Than Heav'nly wealth, Eternal health, and all Christ's Royal store? LXIV. [Sidenote: Luke 13:34. John 5:40, and 15:22.] 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. LXV. They multiply and magnify Men's gross Iniquities; They draw down wrath (as Scripture saith) out of God's treasuries. Thus all their ways Christ open lays to Men and Angels' view, And as they were makes them appear in their own proper hue. LXVI. [Sidenote: Rom. 8:10, 12.] Thus he doth find of all Mankind, that stand at his left hand, No mother's son but hath misdone, and broken God's command. All have transgress'd, even the best, and merited God's wrath, Unto their own perditi-on and everlasting scath. LXVII. [Sidenote: Rom. 6:23.] Earth's dwellers all, both great and small, have wrought iniquity, And suffer must (for it is just) Eternal misery. Amongst the many there come not any, before the Judge's face, That able are themselves to clear, of all this cursed Race. LXVIII. [Sidenote: Hypocrites plead for themselves.] Nevertheless, they all express, (Christ granting liberty,) What for their way they have to say, how they have liv'd, and why. They all draw near and seek to clear themselves by making pleas; There Hypocrites, false-hearted wights, do make such pleas as these: LXIX. [Sidenote: Mat. 7:21, 22, 23.]