That facrilegious monster, Unbelief,
So hard'ned 'gainst remorse and pious grief,
Robs God of all the glory of his names,
And ev'ry 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 soul is join'd to fin,
And deltitute of holiness within;
So all that wed the law, mult wed the curse,
Which rent they scorn to pay with Christ's full purse.
They clear may read their dreadful doom in brief,
Whofe felter'd fore is final unbelief:
Though to the law their life exalted fram’d,
For zealous acts and paffions too were fam’d;
Yet, lo! He that believes nco, Mall be damn'd t.

}

But now 'tis proper, on the oiber side,
With words of comfort to address the bride.
She in ber glorious Husband does poffefs
Adorning grace, acquitting rigbreousness:
And bence to ber pertain tbe golden mines
Of comfort op'ned in the following lines.

GOSPEL-SONNETS. .

PART

II.

The BELIEVER'S JOINTURE:

OR,

The Poem continued on Isaiau liv. 5.

Tby M..ker is oby Husband. N. B. The following lines being primarily intended for the use and

edification of piously-exercised fouls, and especially those of a more common and ordinary capacity ; the Author thought fit, through the whole of this second part of the bouk, to continue, as in the former editions, to repeat that part of the text, Thy Husband, in the last line of every verse; because, however it tended to limit him, and restrict his liberty of words in the composition; yet, having ground to judge, that this appropriating compellation, ftill resumed, had rendered these lines formerly the more favoury to some exercised Christians, to wliom the name of Christ (particularly as their Head and Husband) is as ointment poured forth; he chose rather to subject himself to that restriction, than to with-hold what may tend to the satisfaction and comfort of those to whom Christ is all in all; and to whom his name, as their Husband, so many various ways applied, will be no nauseous repetition.

CH

с н А Р. 1. Containing the Privileges of the Believer that is espoused to CHRIST by Faith of divine Operation.

SECT. I.

1 The BeLIEVER's perfect Beauty, free Acceptance, and full

Security, ibrough ibe Imputation of Christ's perfect Rigbseousness, ihough imparted Grace be imperfect, O

Happy foul, Jehovah's bride,

The Lamb's beloved spouse; Strong conflation's flowing tide,

Thy Husband thee allows.

In thee, though like thy father's race,

By nature black as hell;
Yet now, so beautify'd by grace,

Thy Husband 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 such,

Thy Husband changes not.
Thy white and ruddy vesture fair

Outvies the rofy leaf;
For 'mong ten thousand beauties rare

Thy Husband is the chief.
Cloth'd with the sun, thy robes of light

The morning-rays outshine ;
The lamps of heavin are not so bright,

Thy Husband decks thee fine.
Though hellish smoak thy duties stain,

And fin deforms thee quite ;
Thy Surety's merit makes thee clean,

Thy Husband's beauty's white.
Thy pray’rs and tears, nor pure nor good,

But vile and loth fome seem;
Yet gain, by dipping in his blood,

Thy Husband's high esteem.
No fear thou flarve, though wants be great,

In hien thou art complete †.
Thy hungry foul may hopeful wait,

Thy Husband gives thee meat.
Thy money, merit, pow'r, and pelf,

Were fquander'd by thy fall;
Yet, having nothing in thyself,

Thy Husband is thy all.
Law-precepts, threats, may both belet

To crave thee of their due;
But justice for thy double debt
Thy Husband did pursue,

Though justice ftern as much belong

As mercy to a Gd;
Yet justice suffered here no wrong,

Thy Husband's back was broad.
He bore the load of wrath alone,

That mercy might take vent; Heav'n's pointed arrows all upon

Thy Husband's heart were spent. No partial pay could justice still,

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, 'T'is finished *

Thy Husband's breath expir'd.
No process more the law can 'tent;

Thou stand it within its verge,
And may'st, at pleasure, now present

Thy Husband's full discharge.
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 curse can light,
Thy Husband is the cause.

SECT. II.
Christ the Believer's Friend, Propbet, Pries', King,

Defence, Guard, Help, and Healer. DEAR foul, when all the human race

Lay welt'ring in their gore,
Valt numbers in that dismal cale,

Thy Husband passed o'er.
But, pray, why did he thousands pass,

And set his heart on thee?
The deep, the searchlefs reafon was,
Thy Husband's love is free.

a

The forms of favour, names of

grace, • And offices of love, He bears for thee, with open face,

Thy Husband's kindnels prove. Gainst darkness black, and error blind,

Thou halt a Sun and Shield *;
And, to reveal the Father's mind,

Thy Husband Prophet feald.
He likewise, to procure thy peace,

And save from fin's arrest,
Relign'd himself a sacrifice;

Thy Husband is thy Prieit.
And that he might thy will fubject,

And sweetly captive bring,
Tny fins fubdue, his throne erect,

Thy Husband is thy King.
Though num?rous and assaulting fues

Thy joyful peace may mar; And thou a thousand battles lofe,

Thy Husband wins the war.
Hell's forces, which thy mind apail,

His arm can foon dispatch;
How strong foe’er, yet for them all,

Thy Husband's more than match.
Though secret lulls with hid contest,

By heavy groans reveal’d,
And devils rage; yet, do their best,

Thy Husband keeps the field.
When, in defertion's ev’ning dark,

Thy lleps are apt to slide,
His conduct feek, his counsel mark,

Thy Husband is thy Guide.
In doubts, renouncing self.conceit,

His word and Spirit prize :
He never counsellid wrong as yet,

Thy Husband is so wile.
When weak, thy Refuge feest at hand,

Yet cannot run the length; 'Tis present pow'r to underltand Thy Husband is thy strength,

. Plalm lxxxiv, 11.