Part 20 (2/2)

”But worse than that I've tri'd to do, When darken'd in my mind; I've tri'd to be a Deist too-- That nothing was divine.

But O, good elders, pray for me!

The worst is yet behind-- I've talk'd against the ministry, With malice in my mind.

”O Lord forgive! for mercy's sake, And leave me not behind; For surely I was not awake, Else I had been consign'd.

Good ministry, can you forgive, And elders one and all?

And, brethren, may I with you live, And be the least of all?”

In ”A Solemn Warning” there is a caution against the wiles of Satan, who tries Believers with a spirit of discontent:

”This cunning deceiver can't touch a Believer, Unless he can get them first tempted to taste Some carnal affection, or fleshly connection, And little by little their power to waste.

The first thing is blinding, before undermining, Or else the discerning would shun the vile snare;-- Thus Satan hath frosted and artfully blasted Some beautiful blossoms that promis'd most fair.

”This wily soul-taker and final peace-breaker May take the unwary before they suspect, And get them to hearken to that which will darken, And next will induce them their faith to reject; He'll tell you subjection affords no protection-- These things you've been tau't are but notions at best; Reject your protection, and break your connection, And all you call'd faith you may scorn and detest.”

”The Last Woe” denounces various sins of the congregation:

”In your actions unclean, you are openly seen, And this truth you may ever remark, That in anguish and woe, to the saints you must go, And confess what you've done in the dark.

”From restraint you are free, and no danger you see, Till the sound of the trumpet comes in, Crying 'Woe to your l.u.s.t--it must go to the dust, With the unfruitful pleasures of sin.'

”And a woe to the liar--he is doom'd to the fire, Until all his dark lies are confess'd-- Till he honestly tell, what a spirit from h.e.l.l Had its impious seat in his breast.

”And a woe to the thief, without any relief-- He is sentenc'd in body and soul, To confess with his tongue, and restore ev'ry wrong, What he ever has robbed or stole.

”Tho' the sinner may plead, that it was not decreed For a man to take up a full cross, Yet in h.e.l.l he must burn, or repent and return, And be say'd from the nature of loss.”

In the following ”Dialogue” ”confession of sins” is urged and enforced:

_Q_. Why did you choose this way you're in, which all mankind despise?

_A_. It was to save my soul from sin, and gain a heav'nly prize.

_Q_. But could you find no other way, that would have done as well?

_A_. Nay, any other way but this would lead me down to h.e.l.l.

_Q_. Well, tell me how did you begin to purge away your dross?

_A_. By honestly confessing sin, and taking up my cross.

_Q_. Was it before the Son of man you brought your deeds to light?

_A_. That was the mortifying plan, and surely it was right.

_Q_. But did you not keep something back, or did you tell the whole?

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