Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
CLVI
These words apale and daunt them all;
dismai’d, and all amort,
Like stocks they stand at Christs left hand,
and dare no more retort.
Then were brought near, with trembling fear
a number numberless
Of blind Heathen and b [. . .] utish men,
that did Gods Law transgress.
CLVII
Whose wicked ways, Christ open lays,
and makes their sins appear,
They making plea’s the case to ease,
if not themselves to clear.
Thy written word (say they) good Lord
we never did enjoy:
We not refus’d nor it abus’d,
Oh do not us destroy.
CLVIII
You ne’r abus’d nor yet refus’d
my written Word, you plead;
That’s t [. . .] ue, (quoth he) therefore shall ye
the less be punished.
You shall not smart for any part
of other mens oence,
But for your own transgression
receive due recompence.
CLIX
But we were blind, say [. . .] hey, in mind;
too dim was natures light,
Our only guide (as hath been try [. . .] d)
to bring us to the sight
Of our estate degenerate,
and cu [. . .] st by Adam’s fall;
How we were born and lay forlorn
in bondage and in th [. . .] all.
CLX
We did not know a Christ till now,
nor bow fal [. . .] man he saved:
Page | 221