Then, amidst the hymns and hallelujahs of saints, some one
may perhaps be heard offering at high strains in new and
lofty measures, to sing and celebrate thy divine mercies and
marvellous judgments in this land throughout all ages; whereby
this great and warlike nation, instructed and inured to the
fervent and continual practice of truth and righteousness,
and casting far from her the rags of her old vices, may
press on hard to that high and happy emulation to be found
the soberest, wisest, and most Christian people at that day,
when thou, the eternal and shortly-expected King, shalt open
the clouds to judge the several kingdoms of the world, and
distributing national honours and rewards to religious and
just commonwealths, shalt put an end to all earthly tyrannies,
proclaiming thy universal and mild monarchy through heaven and
earth; where they undoubtedly, that by their labors, counsels
and prayers, have been earnest for the common good of religion
and their country, shall receive above the inferior orders of
the blessed, the regal addition of principalities, legions,
and thrones into their glorious titles, and in supereminence
of beatific vision, progressing the dateless and irrevoluble
circle of eternity, shall clasp inseparable hands with joy and
bliss, in overmeasure, for ever.
But they contrary, that by the impairing and diminution of the
true faith, the distresses and servitude of their country,
aspire to high dignity, rule, and promotion here, after a
shameful end in this life (which God grant them), shall be
thrown down eternally into the darkest and deepest gulf of
hell, where under the despiteful control, the trample and spurn
of all the other damned, that in the anguish of their torture,
shall have no other ease than to exercise a raving and bestial
tyranny over them as their slaves and negroes, they shall
remain in that plight for ever, the basest, the lowermost,
the most dejected, most underfoot, and downtrodden vassals of
perdition.[141]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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