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THE DAY OF DOOM
by Michael Wigglesworth
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
The Day of Doom
The Security of the World before
Christ's coming to Judgment. Luke 12.19.
STILL was the night, Serene & Bright,
when all Men sleeping lay;
Calm was the season, & carnal reason
thought so 'twould last for ay.
Soul, take thine ease, let sorrow cease,
much good thou hast in store:
This was their Song, their Cups among,
the Evening before.
Mat. 25. 5.
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 clos'd their eyes; yea, and the wise
through sloth and frailty slumber'd.
Mat. 24. 37, 38.
Like as of old, when Men grow bold
God's threatenings to contemn,
Who stop their Ear, and would not hear,
when Mercy warned them:
But took their course without remorse,
till God began to powre
Destruction the World upon
in a tempestuous showre.
1 Thes. 5. 8.
They put away the evil day,
and drown'd their care and fears,
Till drown'd were they, and swept away
by vengeance unawares:
So at the last, whilst Men sleep fast
in their security,
Surpriz'd they are in such a snare
as cometh suddenly.
The Suddenness, Majesty & Terror of Christ's appearing.
Mat. 25. 6. 2 Pet. 3. 10.
For at midnight brake forth a Light,
which turn'd the night to day,
And speedily an 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.
Mat. 24. 29, 80.
They rush from Beds with giddy heads,
and to their windows run,
Viewing this light, which shines more bright
then 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.
2 Pet. 3. 10.
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 hide their heads,
As if afraid and quite dismay'd,
they quit their wonted steads.
Ye sons of men that durst contemn
the Threatnings of Gods Word.
How chear you now? your hearts, I trow,
are thrill'd as with a sword.
Now Athist blind, whose brutish mind
a God could never see,
Dost thou perceive, dost now believe
that Christ thy judge shall be?
Stout Courages, (whose hardiness
could Death and Hell out-face)
Are you as bold now you behold
your Judge draw near apace?
They cry, no, no: Alas! and wo!
Our courage all is gone:
Our hardiness (fool hardiness)
hath us undone, undone.
Rev. 6, 15.
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,
Captains and Men of Might
Are quite abasht, their courage dasht
at this most dreadful sight.
Mat. 24. 30.
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.
Rev. 6. 15, 16.
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.
Mat. 25. 21.
The Judge draws nigh, exalted high,
upon a lofty Throne,
Amidst the throng of Angels strong,
lo, Israel's Holy One!
The excellence of whose presence
and awful Majesty,
Amazeth Nature, and every Creature,
doth more than terrify.
Rev. 6. 14.
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.
Whose Glory bright, whose wondrous might,
whose power Imperial,
So far surpass whatever was
in Realms Terrestrial;
That tongues of men (nor angels pen)
cannot the same express,
And therefore I must pass it by,
lest speaking should transgress.
1 Thes. 4. 16.
Resurrection of the dead, John 5. 28, 29.
Before his Throne a Trump is blown,
Proclaiming the day of Doom:
Forthwith he cries, Ye dead arise,
and unto Judgment come.
No sooner said, but tis obey'd;
Sepulchres opened are:
Dead bodies all rise at his call,
and's mighty power declare.
Both Sea and Land, at his Command,
their Dead at once surrender:
The Fire and Air constrained are
also their dead to tender.
The mighty word of this great Lord
links Body and Soul together
Both of the Just, and the unjust,
to art no more for ever.
The living Changed.
Luke 20:36
1 Cor. 15. 52.
The same translates, from Mortal states
to Immortality,
All that survive, and be alive,
i' th' twinkling of an eye:
That so they may abide for ay
to endless weal or woe;
Both the Renate and Reprobate
are made to dy no more.
All brought to Judgment.
Mat. 24. 31.
His winged Hosts flie through all Coasts,
together gethering
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.
2 Cor. 5. 10.
The sheep separated from the Goats.
Mat. 25. 32.
Thus every one before the Throne
of Christ the Judge is brought,
Both righteous and impious
that good or ill hath wrought.
A separation, and diff'ring station
by Christ appointed is
(To sinners sad) 'twixt good and bad,
'twixt Heirs of woe and bliss.
The Heathen's Vain Defence
These words appall and daunt them all;
dismai'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 bruitish men,
that did God's Laws transgress.
Heathen men plead want
of the written Word.
Whose wicked ways Christ open layes,
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 nor refus'd nor it abus'd
Oh, do not us destroy.
Mat. 11. 22.
Luke 22. 48.
You ne'r abus'd nor yet refus'd
my written Word, you plead,
That's true (quoth he) therefore shall ye
the less be punished.
You shall not smart for any part
of other mens offence,
But for your own transgression
receive due recompence.
1 Cor. 1. 21.
And insufficiency of the Light of Nature.
But we were blind, say they, in mind,
too dim was Natures Light,
Our only guide, as hath been try'd
to bring us to the sight
Of our estate degenerate,
and curst by Adam's fall
How we were born and lay forlorn
in bondage and in thrall.
Mat. 11. 22.
We did not know a Christ till now,
nor how faln men be saved,
Else would we not, right well we wot,
have so our selves behaved.
We should have mourn'd, we should have turn'd
from sin at thy Reproof,
And been more wise through thy advice,
for our own Souls behoof.
They are answered.
But Natures Light shin'd not so bright
to teach us the right way:
We might have lov'd it, and well improv'd it,
and yet have gone astray.
The Judge most High makes this Reply,
you ignorance pretend,
Dimness of sight, and want of light
your course Heav'nward to bend.
Gen. 1. 27.
Eccl. 7. 29.
Hos. 13. 9.
How came your mind to be so blind?
I once you knowledge gave,
Clearness of sight, and judgment right;
who did the same deprave?
If to your cost you have it lost,
and quite defac'd the same;
Your own desert hath caus'd the smart,
you ought not me to blame.
Mat. 1. 25
compared with 20, & 15.
Your selves into a pit of woe,
your own transgression led:
If I to none my Grace had shown,
who had been injured?
If to a few, and not to you,
I shew'd a way of life,
My Grace so free, you clearly see,
gives you no ground of strife.
Rom. 1. 20, 21, 22.
'Tis vain to tell, you wot full well,
if you in time had known,
Your Misery and Remedy,
your actions had it shown.
You, sinful Crew, have not been true,
unto the Light of Nature,
Nor done the good you understood,
nor owned your Creator.
Rom. 2. 12, 15,
& 1. 32.
Mat. 12. 41.
He that the Light, because 'tis Light,
hath used to despize,
Would not the Light shining more bright,
be likely for to prize.
If you had lov'd, and well improv'd
your knowledge and dim sight,
Herein your pain had not been vain,
your plagues had been more light.
Plea of the Infants
Reprobate Infants plead for themselves.
Rev. 20. 12, 15.
compared with
Rom. 5 12, 14, & 9. 11, 13.
Ezek. 18. 2.
Then to the Bar, all they drew near
Who dy'd in infancy,
And never had or good or bad
effected pers'nally.
But from the womb unto the tomb
were straightway carried,
(Or at the least e'er they transgrest)
who thus began to plead:
If for our own transgression,
or disobedience,
We here did stand at thy left hand
just were the Recompence:
But Adam's guilt our souls hath spilt,
his fault is charg'd on us:
And that alone hath overthrown,
and utterly undone us.
Not we, but he ate of the Tree,
whose fruit was interdicted
Yet on us all of his sad Fall,
the punishment's inflicted.
How could we sin that had not been
or how is his sin our
Without consent, which to prevent,
we never had a pow'r?
Psal. 51. 5.
O great Creator, why was our Nature
depraved and forlorn?
Why so defil'd, and made so vil'd
whilst we were yet unborn?
If it be just, and needs we must
transgressors reck'ned be,
Thy Mercy Lord, to us afford,
which sinners hath set free.
Behold we see Adam set free,
and sav'd from his trespass,
Whose sinful Fall hath spilt us all,
and brought us to this pass.
Canst thou deny us once to try,
or Grace to us to tender,
When he finds grace before thy face,
that was the chief offender?
Their Arguments taken off.
Ezek. 18. 20. Rom. 5. 12, 19.
Then answered the Judge most dread,
God doth such doom forbid,
That men should dye eternally
for what they never did.
But what you call old Adam's Fall,
and only his Trespass,
You call amiss to call it his,
both his and yours it was.
1 Cor. 15. 48, 49.
He was design'd of all Mankind
to be a publick Head,
A common Root, whence all should shoot,
and stood in all their stead.
He stood and fell, did ill or well,
Not for himself alone,
But for you all, who now his Fall,
and trespass would disown.
If he had stood, then all his brood
had been established
In Gods true love never to move,
nor once awry to tread:
Then all his Race, my Fathers Grace,
should have enjoy'd for ever,
And wicked Sprights by subtile sleights
could them have harmed never.
Would you have griev'd to have receiv'd
through Adam so much good,
As had been your for evermore,
if he at first had stood?
Would you have said, we ne'er obey'd,
nor did thy Laws regard
It ill befits with benefits,
us, Lord, so to reward.
Rom. 5. 12.
Psal. 51. 5.
Gen. 5. 3.
Since then to share in his welfare,
you could have been content,
You may with reason share in his treason,
and in the punishment.
Hence you were born in state forlorn,
with Natures so depraved:
Death was your due, because that you
had thus your selves behaved.
Mat. 23. 30, 31.
You think if we had been as be,
whom God did so betrust,
We to our cost would ne'er have lost
all for a paltry Lust.
Had you been made in Adam's stead,
you would like things have wrought,
And so into the self same wo,
your selves and yours have brought.
Rom. 9. 15, 18.
The free gift.
Rom. 5. 15.
I may deny you once to try,
or Grace to you to tender,
Though he finds Grace before my face,
who was the chief offender:
Else should my Grace cease to be Grace;
for it should not be free,
If to release whom I should please,
I have no libertie.
If upon one what's due to none
I frankly shall bestow,
And on the rest shall not think best,
compassions skirts to throw,
Whom injure I? will you envy,
and grudge at others weal?
Or me accuse, who do refuse
your selves to help and heal.
Mat. 20. 15.
Am I alone of what's my own,
no Master or no Lord?
O if I am, how can you claim
what I to some afford?
Will you demand Grace at my hand,
and challenge what is mine?
Will you teach me whom to set free,
and thus my grace confine?
You sinners are, and such a share
as sinners may expect,
Such you shall have; for I do save
none but my own Elect.
Yet to compare your sin with their
who liv'd a longer time,
I do confess yours is much less,
though every sin's a crime.
A Crime it is, therefore in bliss
you may not hope to dwell
But unto you I shall allow
the easiest room in Hell.
The glorious King thus answering,
they cease and plead no longer:
Their Consciences must needs confess
his Reasons are the stronger.
Psl. 58. 3.; Rom. 6.23.; Gal. 3. 10.
Rom. 8.29, 30, & 11. 7.
Rev. 21. 27.; Luk. 12. 4, 8.; Mat. 11. 22.
The wicked all convinced and put to silence.
Rom. 3. 19.; Mat. 22. 12.
Behold the formidable estate of all the ungodly as they stand
hopeless and helpless before an impartial Judge expecting their
final Sentence.
Rev. 6. 16, 17.
Thus all mens Pleas the Judge with ease
doth answer and confute,
Until that all, both great and small,
are silenced and mute.
Vain hopes are cropt, all mouths are stopt,
sinners have nought to say,
But that 'tis just, and equal most
they should be damn'd for ay.
Sentence and Torment of the Condemned
1 Cor. 6.2.
Where tender love mens hearts did move
unto a sympathy,
And bearing part of others smart
in their anxiety
Now such compassion is out of fashion,
and wholly laid aside:
No Friends so near, but Saints to hear
their Sentence can abide.
compare Prov. 1. 26.
with 1 John 3. 2, & 2 Cor. 5. 16.
One natural Brother beholds another
in his astonied fit,
Yet sorrows not thereat a jot,
nor pities him a whit.
The godly wife conceives no grief,
nor can she shed a tear
For the sad state of her dear Mate,
when she his doom doth hear.
He that was erst a Husband pierc't
with sense of Wives distress,
Whose tender heart did bear a part
of all her grievances,
Shall mourn no more as heretofore
because of her ill plight;
Although he see her now to be
a damn'd forsaken wight.
Luk. 16. 25.
The tender Mother will own no other
of all her numerous brood,
But such as stand at Christ's right hand
acquitted through his Blood.
The pious father had now much rather
his graceless son should ly
In Hell with Devils, for all his evils,
burning eternally.
Psal. 58. 10.
Then God most high should injury,
by sparing, him sustain
And doth rejoice to hear Christ's voice
adjudging him to pain.
Who having all both great and small,
convinc'd and silenced,
Did then proceed their Doom to read,
and thus it uttered.
The Judge pronounceth the
Sentence of condemnation.
Mat. 25. 41.
Ye sinful wights, and cursed sprights,
that work iniquity,
Depart together from me for ever
to endless Misery;
Your portion take in yonder Lake,
where Fire and Brimstone flameth:
Suffer the smart, which your desert
as it's due wages claimeth.
The terrour of it.
Oh piercing words more sharp than swords!
what, to depart from thee,
Whose face before for evermore
the best of Pleasures be!
What? to depart (unto our smart)
from thee Eternally:
To be for aye banish'd away,
with Devils company!
What? to be sent to Punishment,
and flames of Burning Fire,
To be surrounded, and eke confounded
with Gods Revengeful ire!
What? to abide, not for a tide
these Torments, but for Ever:
To be released, or to be eased,
not after years, but Never.
Oh fearful Doom! now there's no room
for hope or help at all:
Sentence is past which aye shall last,
Christ will not it recall.
There might you hear them rent and tear
the Air with their out-cries:
The hideous noise of their sad voice
ascendeth to the Skies.
Luke 13. 28.
Prov. 1. 26.
They wring their hands, their caitiff-hands,
and gnash their teeth for terrour;
They cry, they roar for anguish sore,
and gnaw their tongues for horrour.
But get away without delay,
Christ pities not your cry:
Depart to Hell, there may you yell,
and roar Eternally.
It is put In Execution.
Mat. 25. 46.
That word, Depart, maugre their heart,
drives every wicked one,
With mighty pow'r, the self-same hour,
far from the Judge's Throne.
Away they're chast'd by the strong blast
of his Death-threatning mouth
They flee full fast, as if in haste,
although they be full loath.
Mat. 13. 41, 42.
As chaff that's dry, and dust doth fly
before the Northern wind:
Right so are they chased away,
and can no Refuge find.
They hasten to the Pit of Woe,
guarded by Angels stout;
Who to fulfil Christ's holy will,
attend this wicked Rout.
HELL.
Mat. 25. 30.
Mark 9. 42.
Isa. 30. 33.
Rev. 21. 8.
Whom having brought as they are taught,
unto the brink of Hell,
(That dismal place far from Christ's face,
where Death and Darkness dwell:
Where God's fierce Ire kindleth the fire,
and vengeance feeds the flame
With piles of Wood and Brimstone Flood,
that none can quench the same,)
Wicked Men and Devils cast into it for ever.
Mat. 22. 13. & 25. 46.
With Iron bands they bind their hands, and
cursed feet together,
And cast them all both great and small,
into that Lake for ever,
Where day and night, without respite,
they wail, and cry, and howl
For tort'ring pain which they sustain
in body and in Soul.
Rev. 14. 10, 11.
For day and night, in their despight,
their torments smoak ascendeth.
Their pain and grief have no relief,
their anguish never endeth.
There must they ly, and never dy,
though dying every day:
There must they dying ever ly,
and not consume away.
Dy fain they would, if dy they could,
but death will not be had.
God's direful wrath their bodies hath
for ev'r Immortal made.
They live to ly in misery,
and bear eternal wo;
And live they must whilst God is just,
that he may plague them so.
The insufferable torments of the damned.
Luk. 16. 24.
Jude 7.
But who can tell the plagues of Hell,
and torments exquisite?
Who can relate their dismal state,
and terrours infinite?
Who fare the best, and feel the least,
yet feel that punishment
Whereby to nought they should be brought,
if God did not prevent.
Isa. 33. 14.
Mark 9. 43, 44.
The least degree of misery
there felt's incomparable,
The lightest pain they there sustain
more than intolerable.
But God's great pow'r from hour to hour
upholds them in the fire,
That they shall not consume a jot,
nor by it's force expire.
The Saints Ascend to Heaven
The Saints rejoyce to see Judgment
executed upon the wicked World.
Psal. 58. 10.
Rev. 10. 1, 2, 3.
The Saints behold with courage bold,
and thankful wonderment,
To see all those that were their foes
thus sent to punishment;
Then do they sing unto their King
a Song of endless Praise:
They praise his Name, and do proclaim
that just are all his ways.
They ascend with Christ into
Heaven triumphing. Mat. 25.46.
Thus with great joy and melody
to Heav'n they all ascend,
Him there to praise with sweetest layes,
and Hymns that never end.
Where with long rest they shall be blest.
and nought shall them annoy
Where they shall see as seen they be,
and whom they love enjoy.
1 Joh. 3. 2.
1 Cor. 13.12.
Their Eternal happiness
and incomparable Glory there.
O glorious Place! where face to face
Jehovah may be seen,
By such as were sinners while here
and no dark veil between.
Where the Sun shine and hight Divine,
of Gods bright countenance,
Doth rest upon them every one,
with sweetest influence.
Rev. 21. 4.
O blessed state of the Renate!
O wondrous Happiness,
To which they're brought beyond what thought
can reach, or words express!
Griefs water-course, and sorrows source,
are turn'd to joyful streams.
Their old distress and heaviness
are vanished like dreams.
Psal. 16. 11.
For God above in arms of love
doth dearly them embrace,
And fills their sprights with such delights,
and pleasures in his grace;
As shall not fail, nor yet grow stale
through frequency of use
Nor do they fear Gods favour there,
to forfeit by abuse.
Heb. 12. 23.
Rev. 1. 6, & 22. 5.
For there the Saints are perfect Saints,
and holy ones indeed,
From all the sin that dwelt within
their mortal bodies freed:
Made Kings and Priests to God through Christs
dear loves transcendency,
There to remain and there to reign
with him Eternally.
THE END
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