Page images
PDF
EPUB

Of all his honour in his darling Son,
For all the great difhonours they have done.
A faithlefs foul the glorious God bereaves
Of all the fatisfaction that he craves;
Hence under divine hottest fury lies,
And with a double vengeance justly dies.
The blackest part of Tophet is their place,
Who flight the tenders of redeeming grace.
That facrilegious monfter, Unbelief,
So hardened 'gainst remorfe and pious grief,
Robs God of all the glory of his names,
And every divine attribute defames.
It loudly calls the truth of God a lie;
The God of truth a liar ;* horrid cry!
Doubts and denies his precious words of grace,
Spits venom in the royal Suitor's face.
This monster cannot cease all fin to hatch,
Because it proudly mars the happy match.
As each law wedded foul is join'd to fin,
And deftitute of holinefs within;

So all that wed the law, must wed the curfe,

Which rent they scorn to pay with Chrift's full purse. They clear may read their dreadful doom in brief, Whofe fefter'd fore is final unbelief:

Though to the law their life exactly fram'd,

For zealous acts and paffions too were fam'd:
Yet, lo! He that believes not, fhall be damn’d‚†

But now 'tis proper on the other fide,
With words of comfort to addrefs the bride.
She in her glorious Husband does poffefs
Adorning grace, acquitting righteousnefs:
And hence to her pertain the golden mines
Of comfort open'd in the foll'wing lines.

[blocks in formation]

PART II.

THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE:

OR,

THE POEM CONTINUED,

UPON ISAIAH liv. 5. Thy Maker is thy Hufband. N. B. The following lines being primarily intended for the ufe and edification of pioufly exercised fouls, and especially thofe of a more common and ordinary capacity; the author thought fit, through the whole of the fecond part of this book, to continue, as in the former editions, to repeat that part of the text, Thy Hufband, in the last line of every verfe: because, however it tended to limit him, and restrict his liberty of words in the compofition, yet having ground to judge, that this appropriating appellation ftill refumed, has rendered thefe lines formerly the more favoury to fome exercised Chriftians, to whom the name of Christ (particularly as their Head and Hufband) is as ointment poured forth; he chofe rather to fubject himself to that restriction, than to withhold what may tend to the fatisfaction and comfort of thofe to whom Christ is all in all; and to whom his name, as their Husband, many various ways applied, will be no nauseous repetition.

fo

CHAP. I.

Containing the Privileges of the Believer that is espoused to Chrift by faith of divine op

eration.

SECT. I. The Believer's perfect beauty, free acceptance, and full fecurity, through the imputation of Chrift's perfect righteoufnefs, though imparted grace be imperfect.

HAPPY foul, Jehovah's bride,

The Lamb's beloved spouse;
Strong confolation's flowing tide,
Thy Husband thee allows.

In thee, though like thy father's race,
By nature black as hell,
Yet now, fo beautify'd by grace,
Thy Hufband loves to dwell.

Fair as the moon thy robes appear,
While graces are in dress;

*

Clear as the fun, while found to wear
Thy Husband's righteousness.

Thy moon-like graces, changing much,
Have here and there a spot ;
Thy fun like glory is not fuch,
Thy Hufband changes not.

Thy white and ruddy vefture fair
Outvies the rofy leaf;

For 'mong ten thousand beauties rare
Thy Hufband is the chief.

Cloth'd with the fun, thy robes of light
The morning rays outfhine;
The lamps of heav'n are not fo bright,
Thy Hufband decks thee fine.

Though hellifh fmoke thy duties ftain,
And fin deform thee quite;

Thy Surety's merit makes thee clean,
Thy Husband's beauty white.

Thy prayers and tears, nor pure, nor good,

But vile and loathfome feem;

Yet gain, by dipping in his blood,
Thy Husband's high efteem.

No fear thou ftarve, though wants be great,
In him thou art complete :†·

Thy hungry foul may hopeful wait,

Thy Hufband gives thee meat.

Thy money, merit, power and pelf,
Were fquander'd by thy fall;
Yet having nothing in thyself,
Thy Hufband is thy all.

[blocks in formation]

Law precepts, threats, may both befet

To crave of thee their due ;'

But justice for thy double debt
Thy Husband did pursue.

Though juftice ftern as much belong
As mercy to a God;

Yet juftice fuffer'd here no wrong,
Thy Hufband's back was broad.
He bore the load of wrath alone,
That mercy might take vent;
Heaven's pointed arrows all upon

Thy Husband's heart were spent.
No partial pay could juftice ftill,
No farthing was retrench'd;
Vengeance exacted all, until
Thy Husband all advanc'd.
He paid, in liquid golden red,
Each mite the law requir'd,
Till with a loud 'Tis finished,*
Thy Husband's breath expir'd.

No procefs more the law can tent;
Thou ftand'ft within its verge,
And may'ft with pleafure now prefent
Thy Hufband's full difcharge.

Though new contracted guilt beget
New fears of divine ire:

Yet fear thou not, though drown'd in debt,
Thy Husband is the payer.

God might in rigour thee indite
Of highest crimes and flaws:
But on thy head no curfe can light,
Thy Hufband is the caufe.

* John xix. 30.

I

SECT. II. Chrift the believer's friend, prophet, priest, king, defence, guide, guard, help, and healer.

DEAR foul, when all the human race
Lay welt'ring in their gofe,
Vaft numbers, in that dismal case,
Thy husband passed o'er.

But pray, why did he thousands pass,
And fet his heart on thee?
The deep, the fearchlefs reafon was,
Thy Husband's love is free.

The forms of favour, names of grace,
And offices of love,

He bears for thee, with open face
Thy Husband's kindness prove.

'Gainst darkness black, and error blind,
Thou haft a fun and field ;+
And to reveal the Father's mind,
Thy Husband's Prophet feal'd.
He likewife, to procure thy peace,
And fave from fin's arrest,
Refign'd himself a facrifice;

Thy Husband is thy Prief.

And that he might thy will fubject,
And sweetly captive bring,
Thy fins fubdue, his throne erect,
Thy Husband is thy King.

Though numerous and affaulting foes
Thy joyful peace may mar,
And thou a thousand battles lofe,

Thy Husband wins the war.

Hell's forces, which thy mind appal,
His arm can foon dispatch:
How ftrong foe'er, yet for them all
Thy Husband's more than match.

† Pfalm lxxxiv. II.

« PreviousContinue »