A Dialogue wherein the Speakers are Distressed Conscience and Rectified Judgment.

Consc

1

'Tis not Affliction barely
That doth my Soul distress:
But rather multitude of sins
And mine own wickedness
Nor is it former faults
That now are brought to mind,
So much, as swarms of present sins
And hateful Lusts I find.

2

Had ever any one
So vile a heart as mine?
So barren under all God's pains
Nurture and discipline?
The Saints of God have found
Affliction to sever
Their souls from sin; but I find mine
More boisterous now than ever.

3

This makes me greatly fear
And question mine estate;
Lest I be nothing else but dross
And silver reprobate,
That is not purify'd
By passing through the fire,
Fit to be trampled under foot
And trodden in the mire.

Judgment.

4

Conscience, this is a Time
Wherein thou are benighted,
And seest not things as formerly,
Because thou art dim-sighted.
Now therefore haste to some
Thy doubts that answer may:
Or for the present hark to me,
And hear what I shall say.

5

While Physick is at work,
Ill Humours are disturb'd:
So while Chastisements are at work,
Corruptions may be stirr'd
They do but shew what was
Within the heart before:
They may discover hidden Lusts,
They do not make them more.

6

God hath ordain'd the Rod
To do his Children good;
And this the Saints in God's due time
Have felt and understood:
Not alwayes presently,
And while the smart is on:
For some of them have then cry'd out,
As if they were undone.

7

No chast'ning joyous is,
But seems at present hard:
Yet brings forth fruits of Righteousness,
And sweet Peace afterward
Therefore my sinful Soul,
And doubting Conscience,
Hope well for after-fruit; and don't
Judge all by present sense.

8

Gods Physick is at work
To purge Corruption out:
And this in time he will effect,
Believe and do not doubt.
He first discovereth sin,
Shews thee what wanting is,
Makes thee to feel thy need of help,
And mourn for what's amiss

9

This is some hopeful fruit,
And do not this despise.
For God is making thee more vile
And base in thine own eyes.
Builders may be at work
Before thou see a Stone:
God may be working good for thee,
Though thou discernest none.

Consc

10

Oh but my heart is hard,
Much like the Adamant:
It cannot weep, nor mourn for sin,
Nor pour out its complaint
It cannot kindly melt,
Though daily sins abound
In thought, affection, word, and deed,
which Conscience prick and wound.

Judgm.

11

There may be tenderness
Where hardness most is felt:
And notwithstanding want of Tears
The heart may truly melt.
All are not broken hearted
That store of Tears can weep:
And some that have them now, may have
Humiliation deep.

12

He that bewails his sins
Because they God offend,
That truly hates them, Pardon begs,
Endeavours to amend:
That flies to Christ for grace
To mortifie his Lust,
That mourns because he mourns no more;
This man repents I trust.

13

Doth not my Soul do thus
(Speak Conscience) day by day?
I know that thou wilt speak the truth:
Thou canst not this gainsay.
Well then be comforted,
And doubt not of thy state:
But still endeavour every sin
More thorowly to hate.

14

And labour for to taste
The sweetness of Christ's Love:
Nothing can melt the heart like this
Sweet Sun-shine from above
This can the Rock dissolve,
And make the waters flow
Out of the hardest flinty Heart,
Where never good did grow.