It doth agree with Equity and with God's holy Law, That those should die eternally that Death upon them draw. The soul that sins Damnation wins, for so the Law ordains; Which Law is just; and therefore must such suffer endless pains. CXLII. [Sidenote: Rom. 6:23. 2 Thes. 1:8, 9.] "Eternal smart is the desert ev'n of the least offense; Then wonder not if I allot to you this Recompense; But wonder more that since so sore and lasting plagues are due To every sin, you liv'd therein, who well the danger knew. CXLIII. [Sidenote: Ezek. 33:11. Exod. 34:7, and 14:17. Rom. 9:22.] "God hath no joy to crush or 'stroy, and ruin wretched wights; But to display the glorious Ray of Justice he delights. To manifest he doth detest, and throughly hate all sin, By plaguing it as is most fit— this shall him Glory win." CXLIV. [Sidenote: Some pretend they were shut out of Heaven by God's Decree. Rom. 9:18, 19.] Then at the Bar arraignéd are an impudenter sort, Who to evade the guilt that's laid Upon them, thus retort: "How could we cease thus to transgress? How could we Hell avoid, Whom God's Decree shut out from thee, and sign'd to be destroy'd? CXLV. [Sidenote: Heb. 22:17. Rom. 11:7, 8.] "Whom God ordains to endless pains by Law unalterable, Repentance true, Obedience new, to save such are unable. Sorrow for sin no good can win, to such as are rejected; Nor can they grieve nor yet believe, that never were elected. CXLVI. "Of Man's fall'n race, who can true Grace or Holiness obtain? Who can convert or change his heart, if God withhold the same? Had we applied ourselves and tried as much as who did most, God's love to gain, our busy pain and labor had been lost." CXLVII. [Sidenote: Their pleas taken off. Luke 13:27. 2 Pet. 1:9, 10, compared with Mat. 19:16.] Christ readily makes this Reply: "I damn you not because You are rejected, nor yet elected; but you have broke my Laws. It is in vain your wits to strain the end and means to sever; Men fondly seek to part or break what God hath link'd together. CXLVIII. [Sidenote: Acts 3:19, and 16:31. 1 Sam. 2:15. John 3:19. Job 5:40. 2 Thes. 2:11, 12.] "Whom God will save, such he will have the means of life to use; Whom he'll pass by shall choose to die, and ways of life refuse. He that fore-sees and fore-decrees, in wisdom order'd has, That man's free-will, electing ill, shall bring his Will to pass. CXLIX. [Sidenote: Ezek. 33:11, 12. Luke 13:34. Prov. 8:33, 36.] "High God's Decree, as it is free, so doth it none compel Against their will to good or ill; it forceth none to Hell. They have their wish whose Souls perish with Torments in Hell-fire, Who rather choose their souls to lose, than leave a loose desire. CL. [Sidenote: Gen. 2:17. Mat. 25:41, 42. Ezek. 18:20.]