X.

PSALM Cxliii. 2.

Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

JESUS. JUSTICE.

SINNER.

[commands

Jes.

RING forth the pris'ner, Justice. Just. Thy
Are done, just Judge: see here the pris'ner stands.
Jes. What has the pris'ner done? Say, what's the cause
Of his commitment? Just. He hath broke the laws
Of his too gracious God? conspir'd the death

Of that great Majesty that gave him breath,
And heaps transgression, Lord, upon transgression.

Jes. How know'st thou this? Just. Ev'n by his own His sins are crying; and they cry'd aloud: [confession: They cry'd to heav'n, they cry'd to heav'n for blood.

Fes. What sayst thou, sinner? hast thou aught to plead,
That sentence should not pass? Hold up thy head,
And shew thy brazen, thy rebellious face.

Sin. Ah me! I dare not: I'm too vile and base
To tread upon the earth; much more, to lift
Mine eyes to heav'n: I need no other shrift *
Than mine own conscience: Lord, I must confess,
I am no more than dust, and no whit less
Than my indictment styles me; Ah! if thou
Search too severe, with too severe a brow,

What flesh can stand? I have transgress'd thy laws.
My merits plead thy vengeance; not my cause.

* Shrift; i. e. confession: an old word for auricular coufession, with papists.

Fus

Jus. Lord, shall I strike the blow? Jes. Hold, Justice, Sinner, speak on; what hast thou more to say?

Sin. Vile as I am, and of myself abhorr'd,
I am thy handy-work, thy creature, Lord,
Stampt with thy glorious image, and, at first,
Most like to thee, though now a poor accurst,
Convicted caitiff, and degen'rous creature,

[stay:

[greater.

Here, trembling at thy bar. Just. Thy fault's the Lord, shall I strike the blow? Jes. Hold, Justice, stay: Speak, sinner; hast thou nothing else to say?

Sin. Nothing but mercy, mercy, Lord; my state

Is miserably poor and desperate:

I quite renounce myself, the world, and flee
From Lord to JESUS, from myself to thee.

Just. Cease thy vain hopes; my angry God has vow'd, Abused mercy must have blood for blood:

Shall I yet strike the blow? Jes. Stay, Justice, hold;
My bowels yearn, my fainting blood grows cold,
To view the trembling wretch; methinks, I spy
My Father's image in the pris'ner's eye.

Just. I cannot hold. Jes. Then turn thy thirsty blade
Into my sides, let there the wound be made:
Cheer up, dear soul; redeem thy life with mine :
My soul shall smart, my heart shall bleed for thine.
Sin. O groundless* deeps! O love beyond degree!
Th' offended dies to set th' offender free.

* Groundless; i. e. without bottom.

3

S. AU

me;

S. AUGUST.

Lord, if I have done that, for which thou mayest damn thou hast not lost that whereby thou mayest save me. Remember not, sweet Jesus, thy justice against the sinner, but thy benignity towards thy creature: remember not to proceed against a guilty soul, but remember thy mercy towards a miserable wretch: forget the insolence of the provoker, but behold the misery of the invoker; for what is Jesus but a Saviour?

ANSELM.

Have respect to what thy Son hath done for me, and forget what my sins have done against thee: my flesh hath provoked thee to vengeance; let the flesh of Christ move thee to mercy: it is much that my rebellions have deserved; but it is more that my Redeemer hath merited.

EPIG. 10.

Mercy of mercies! He that was my drudge,
Is now my advocate, is now my judge:
He suffers, pleads, and sentences, alone :
Three I adore, and yet adore but One.

PSALM