Hath hundred winters past since thou wast born, I heard the merry grasshopper then sing, The black-clad cricket bear a second part, They kept one tune, and played on the same string, Shall creatures abject thus their voices raise? When I behold the heavens as in their prime, And then the earth (though old) still clad in green, The stones and trees, insensible of time, Nor age nor wrinkle on their front are seen; If winter come, and greenness then do fade, A spring returns, and they more youthful made; 20 25 30 But Man grows old, lies down, remains where once he's laid. 35 MICHAEL WIGGLESWORTH THE DAY OF DOOM° SOUNDING OF THE LAST TRUMP STILL was the night, Serene & Bright, This was their Song, their Cups among, Wallowing in all kind of sin, vile wretches lay secure: The best of men had scarcely then their Lamps kept in good ure. Virgins unwise, who through disguise amongst the best were number'd, Had closed their eyes°; yea, and the wise through sloth and frailty slumber'd. For at midnight brake forth a Light, which turn'd the night to day, And speedily a hideous cry did all the world dismay. Sinners awake, their hearts do ake, trembling their loynes surprizeth; Amaz'd with fear, by what they hear, each one of them ariseth. They rush from Beds with giddy heads, and to their windows run, 25 Viewing this light, which shines more bright than doth the Noon-day Sun. Straightway appears (they see 't with tears) the Son of God most dread; Who with his Train comes on amain to Judge both Quick and Dead. Before his face the Heav'ns gave place, and Skies are rent asunder, With mighty voice, and hideous noise, more terrible than Thunder. His brightness damps heav'ns glorious lamps and makes them hang their heads, As if afraid and quite dismay'd, they quit their wonted steads.° 30 35 40 No heart so bold, but now grows cold and almost dead with fear: No eye so dry, but now can cry, and pour out many a tear. Earth's Potentates and pow'rful States, Are quite abasht, their courage dasht 45 Mean men lament, great men do rent their Robes, and tear their hair : They do not spare their flesh.to tear through horrible despair. All Kindreds wail: all hearts do fail: horror the world doth fill With weeping eyes, and loud out-cries, yet knows not how to kill. Some hide themselves in Caves and Delves, in places under ground: Some rashly leap into the Deep, to scape by being drown'd: Some to the Rocks (O senseless blocks!) and woody Mountains run, That there they might this fearful sight, and dreaded Presence shun. In vain do they to Mountains say, fall on us and us hide From Judges ire, more hot than fire, for who may it abide? No hiding place can from his Face sinners at all conceal, Whose flaming Eye hid things doth 'spy and darkest things reveal. The Judge draws nigh, exalted high, upon a lofty Throne, Amidst a throng of Angels strong, lo, Israel's Holy One! 80 85 * The excellence of whose presence and awful Majesty, Amazeth Nature, and every Creature, doth more than terrify. The Mountains smoak, the Hills are shook, the Earth is rent and torn, As if she should be clear dissolv'd, or from the Center born. The Sea doth roar, forsakes the shore, and shrinks away for fear; The wild beasts flee into the Sea, so soon as he draws near. Before his Throne a Trump is blown, Dead bodies all rise at his call, Both good and bad, both quick and dead, and all to Judgment bring. Out of their holes those creeping Moles, that hid themselves for fear, By force they take, and quickly make before the Judge appear. 100 |