"God did ordain sinners to pain, yet he to Hell sends none But such as swerv'd and have deserv'd destruction as their own. His pleasure is, that none from Bliss and endless happiness Be barr'd, but such as wrong'd him much, by willful wickedness. CLI. [Sidenote: 2 Pet. 1:10. Acts 13:46. Luke 13:24.] "You, sinful Crew! no other knew but you might be elect; Why did you then yourselves condemn? Why did you me reject? Where was your strife to gain that life which lasteth evermore? You never knock'd, yet say God lock'd against you Heaven's door. CLII. [Sidenote: Mat. 7:7, 8. Gal. 5:22, 23.] "Twas no vain task to knock and ask, whilst life continuéd. Who ever sought Heav'n as he ought, and seeking perishéd? The lowly, meek, who truly seek for Christ and for Salvation, There's no decree whereby such be ordain'd to condemnation. CLIII. [Sidenote: John 3:19.] "You argue then: 'But abject men, whom God resolves to spill, Cannot repent, nor their hearts rent; nor can they change their will.' Not for his _Can_ is any man adjudgéd unto Hell, But for his _Will_ to do what's ill, and nilling to do well. CLIV. [Sidenote: John 5:40.] "I often stood tend'ring my Blood to wash away your guilt, And eke my Sprite to frame you right, lest your Souls should be spilt. But you, vile Race, rejected Grace, when Grace was freely proffer'd, No changéd heart, no heav'nly part would you, when it was offer'd. CLV. [Sidenote: John 15:22, 24. Heb. 2:3. Isa. 66:34.] "Who willfully the remedy, and means of life contemnéd, Cause have the same themselves to blame, if now they be condemnéd. You have yourselves, you and none else, to blame that you must die; You chose the way to your decay, and perish'd willfully." CLVI. These words appall and daunt them all, dismay'd and all amort, Like stocks that stand at Christ's left hand and dare no more retort. Then were brought near with trembling fear, a number numberless, Of Blind Heathen and brutish men, that did God's Law transgress; CLVII. [Sidenote: Heathen men plead want of the Written Word.] Whose wicked ways Christ open lays, and makes their sins appear, They making pleas their case to ease, if not themselves to clear. "Thy Written Word," say they, "good Lord, we never did enjoy; We ne'er refus'd, nor it abus'd; Oh, do not us destroy!" CLVIII. [Sidenote: Mat. 11:22. Luke 12:48.] "You ne'er abus'd, nor yet refus'd my Written Word, you plead; That's true," quoth he, "therefore shall ye the less be punishéd. You shall not smart for any part of other men's offense, But for your own transgressi-on receive due recompense." CLIX. [Sidenote: 1 Cor. 1:21, Insufficiency of the light of Nature.]