"The Mystery of Piety God unto Babes reveals, When to the Wise he it denies, and from the world conceals. If to fulfil God's holy Will had seeméd good to you, You would have sought light as you ought, and done the good you knew." CXXIV. [Sidenote: Others the fear of persecution. Acts 28:22.] Then came in view another crew, and 'gan to make their pleas; Amongst the rest, some of the best had such poor shifts as these: "Thou know'st right well, who all canst tell, we liv'd amongst thy foes, Who the Renate did sorely hate and goodness much oppose. CXXV. [Sidenote: John 12:42, 43.] "We holiness durst not profess, fearing to be forlorn Of all our friends, and for amends to be the wicked's scorn. We knew their anger would much endanger our lives and our estates; Therefore, for fear, we durst appear no better than our mates." CXXVI. [Sidenote: They are answered. Luke 12:4, 5. Isa. 51:12, 13.] To whom the Lord returns this word: "O wonderful deceits! To cast off awe of God's strict law, and fear men's wrath and threats; To fear hell-fire and God's fierce ire less than the rage of men; As if God's wrath could do less scath than wrath of bretheren! CXXVII. "To use such strife, a temp'ral life to rescue and secure, And be so blind as not to mind that life that will endure! This was your case, who carnal peace more than true joys did savor; Who fed on dust, clave to your lust, and spurnéd at my favor. CXXVIII. [Sidenote: Luke 9:23, 24, 25, and 16:2.] "To please your kin, men's love to win, to flow in worldly wealth, To save your skin, these things have been more than Eternal health. You had your choice, wherein rejoice; it was your porti-on, For which you chose your souls t' expose unto Perditi-on. CXXIX. [Sidenote: Luke 9:26. Prov. 8:36. John 3:19, 20.] "Who did not hate friends, life, and state, with all things else for me, And all forsake and's Cross up-take shall never happy be. Well worthy they to die for aye, who death than life had rather; Death is their due that so value the friendship of my Father." CXXX. [Sidenote: Others plead for pardon both from God's Mercy and Justice. Psal. 78:38. 2 Kin. 14:26.] Others argue, and not a few, "Is not God graci-ous? His Equity and Clemency, are they not marvellous? Thus we believ'd; are we deceiv'd? Cannot his Mercy great, (As hath been told to us of old,) assuage his anger's heat? CXXXI. "How can it be that God should see his Creatures' endless pain, Or hear their groans and rueful moans, and still his wrath retain? Can it agree with Equity, can Mercy have the heart, To recompense few years' offense with everlasting smart? CXXXII. [Sidenote: Psal. 30:9. Mic. 7:18.]