CVI. [Sidenote: Prov. 15:8. Rom. 3:20.] "Your gold is brass, your silver dross, your righteousness is sin; And think you by such honesty Eternal life to win? You much mistake, if for its sake you dream of acceptation; Whereas the same deserveth shame and meriteth damnation." CVII. [Sidenote: Those that pretend want of opportunity to repent. Prov. 27:1. Jam. 4:13.] A wondrous crowd then 'gan aloud thus for themselves to say: "We did intend, Lord, to amend, and to reform our way. Our true intent was to repent and make our peace with thee; But sudden death stopping our breath, left us no liberty. CVIII. "Short was our time, for in its prime our youthful pow'r was cropt; We died in youth before full growth, so was our purpose stopt. Let our good will to turn from ill, and sin to have forsaken, Accepted be, O Lord, by thee, and in good part be taken." CIX. [Sidenote: Are confuted and convinced. Eccl. 12:1. Rev. 2:21.] To whom the Judge: "Where you allege the shortness of the space, That from your birth you liv'd on earth, to compass saving Grace, It was Free Grace that any space was given you at all, To turn from evil, defy the Devil, and upon God to call. CX. [Sidenote: Luke 13:24. 2 Cor. 6:2. Heb. 3:7, 8, 9.] "One day, one week wherein to seek God's face with all your hearts, A favor was that far did pass the best of your deserts. You had a season; what was your reason such precious hours to waste? What could you find, what could you mind that was of greater haste? CXI. [Sidenote: Eccl. 11:9 Luke 14:18, 19, 20.] "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. [Sidenote: Amos 6:3, 4, 5, 6. Eph. 5:16. Luke 19:42.] "In younger years, beyond your fears, what if you were surprizéd? You put away the evil day, and of long life deviséd. 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. [Sidenote: Luke 13:24, 25, etc. Phil. 2:12.] "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." CXIV. [Sidenote: Some plead examples of their betters. Mat. 18:7.] Then were brought in and charg'd with sin, another Company, Who by Petition obtain'd permission to make Apology. They arguéd, "We were misled, as is well known to thee, By their example that had more ample abilities than we; CXV. [Sidenote: John 7:48].