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That facrilegious monster, Unbelief,

So hard'ned 'gainst remorfe 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 monfter cannot ceafe all fin to hatch,
Because it proudly mars the happy match.
As each law wedded foul is join'd to fin,
And deftitute of holinefs within;

So all that wed the law, muft wed the curfe,

Which rent they fcorn to pay with Chrift's full purse.
They clear may read their dreadful doom in brief,
Whofe fefter'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 not, fhall be damn'd t.

But now 'tis proper, on the other fide,
With words of comfort to addrefs the bride.
She in ber glorious Hufband does poffefs
Adorning grace, acquitting righteousness:
And bence to ber pertain the golden mines
Of comfort op'ned in the following lines.
† John iii. 18.

* John v. 10.

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GOSPEL-SONNETS.

PART II.

The BELIEVER'S JOINTURE:

OR,

The POEM continued on ISAIAH liv. 5.

Thy Maker is thy Husband.

N. B. The following lines being primarily intended for the ufe 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 fecond part of the book, to continue. as in the former editions, to repeat that part of the text, Thy Husband, in the last line of every verfe; because, however it tended to limit him, and reftrict his liberty of words in the compofition; yet, having ground to judge, that this appropriating compellation, ftill refumed, had rendered these lines formerly the more favoury to some exercised Christians, to whom the name of CHRIST (particularly as their Head and Hufband) is as ointment poured forth; he chose rather to subject himself to that reftriction, than to with-hold what may tend to the fatisfaction and comfort of those to whom CHRIST is all in all; and to whom his name, as their Husband, fo many various ways applied, will be no naufeous repetition.

CHA P. I.

Containing the PRIVILEGES of the Believer that is espoused to CHRIST by Faith of divine Operation.

SECT. I.

The BELIEVER's perfect Beauty, free Acceptance, and full Security, through the Imputation of CHRIST's perfect Righteousness, though imparted Grace be imperfect.

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Happy foul, JEHOVAH's bride, The Lamb's beloved fpoufe; Strong confolation's flowing tide, Thy Hufband thee allows.

In thee, though like thy father's race,

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

Thy Hufband loves to dwell.
Fair as the moon thy robes appear,
While graces are in dress:
Clear as the fun *, while found to wear
Thy Hufband's righteoufnefs.

Thy moon-like graces, changing much,
Have here and there a fpot:
Thy fun-like glory is not fuch,
Thy Husband changes not.

Thy white and ruddy venture fair
Outvies the rofy leaf;

For 'mong ten thoufand beauties rare
Thy Hufband is the chief.

Cloth'd with the fun, thy robes of light
The morning-rays outshine;

The lamps of heav'n are not fo bright,
Thy Hufband decks thee fine.

Though hellifh fmoak thy duties ftain,
And fin deforms thee quite;

Thy Surety's merit makes thee clean,
Thy Hufband's beauty's white.

Thy pray'rs and tears, nor pure nor good,

But vile and lothfome feem;

Yet gain, by dipping in his blood,
Thy Hufband's high efteem.

No fear thou flarve, though wants be great,
In him thou art complete f.
Thy hungry foul may hopeful wait,
Thy Hufband gives thee meat.

Thy money, merit, pow'r, and pelf,
Were fquander'd by thy fall;
Yet, having nothing in thyfelf,
Thy Hufband is thy all.

Law-precepts, threats, may both befet
To crave thee of their due;
But juftice for thy double debt
Thy Hufband did pursue.

* Song vi. 8.

+ Col. ii. 10:

Though juftice ftern as much belong
As mercy to a Gd;

Yet juftice fuffered here no wrong,
Thy Hufband's back was broad.
He bore the load of wrath alone,
That mercy might take vent;
Heav'n's pointed arrows all upon
Thy Hufband's heart were spent.
No partial pay could justice ftill,
No farthing was retrench'd;
Vengeance exacted all, until
Thy Hufband all advanc'd.
He paid in liquid golden red,
Each mite the law requir'd,
Till, with a loud, 'Tis finifhed *,
Thy Hufband's breath expir'd.
No procefs more the law can 'tent;
Thou ftand'it within its verge,
And may'ft, at pleafure, now prefent
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 Hufband is the payer.

God might in rigour thee indite

Of highest crimes and flaws;
But on thy head no curfe can light,
Thy Hufband is the caufe.

SECT. II.

CHRIST the Believer's Friend, Prophet, Prieft, King, Defence, Guard, Help, and Healer.

DEAR foul, when all the human race

Lay welt'ring in their gore,

Vaft numbers in that difmal cafe,
Thy Hufband paffed o'er.

But, pray, why did he thoufands pass,
And fet his heart on thee?

The deep, the fearchlefs reafon was,
Thy Hufband's love is free.

* John xix. 30.

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And offices of love,

He bears for thee, with open face,

Thy Husband's kindness prove.
'Gainft darkness black, and error blind,
Thou haft a Sun and Shield *;
And, to reveal the Father's mind,
Thy Husband Prophet feal'd.
He likewife, to procure thy peace,
And fave from fin's arreft,
Refign'd himself a facrifice;
Thy Hufband is thy Priest.

And that he might thy will fubje&,
And fweetly captive bring,
Thy fins fubdue, his throne erect,
Thy Hufband is thy King.
Though num'rous and affaulting foes
Thy joyful peace may mar;
And thou a thousand battles lofe,
Thy Hufband wins the war.
Hell's forces, which thy mind apail,
His arm can foon dispatch;
How ftrong foe'er, yet for them all,
Thy Hufband's more than match.
Though fecret lufts with hid contest,
By heavy groans reveal'd,

And devils rage; yet, do their beft,
Thy Hufband keeps the field.
When, in defertion's ev'ning dark,
Thy fleps are apt to flide,

His conduct feek, his counfel mark,
Thy Hufband is thy Guide.

In doubts, renouncing felf-conceit,
His word and Spirit prize :
He never counfell'd wrong as yet,
Thy Hufband is fo wife.

When weak, thy Refuge feeft at hand,
Yet cannot run the length;
'Tis prefent pow'r to understand
Thy Hufband is thy ftrength.

Pfalm lxxxiv. II,

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