Judgment and Mercy by Quarles

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · May 30, 1854

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 5, No. 19.

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Judgment and Mercy.

By Quarles

BY QUARLES.—ABOUT A. D. 1634.

"Enter not into Judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified." Ps. cxliii, 2.

JESUS, JUSTICE, AND THE SINNER.

Jesus.—Bring forth the pris'ner, Justice.

Justice.—Thy commands Are done, just Judge. See, here the pris'ner stands.

Jesus.—What has the pris'ner done? Say what's the cause Of his commitment?

Justice.—He hath broke the laws Of his too gracious God; conspired the death Of that great Majesty that gave him breath, And heaps transgression, Lord, upon transgression.

Jesus.—How know'st thou this?

Justice.—E'en by his own confession. His sins are crying; and they cry aloud: They cried to heav'n, they cried to heav'n for blood.

Jesus.—What sayest thou sinner? Hast thou aught to plead, That sentence should not pass? Hold up thy head, And show thy brazen, thy rebellious face.

Sinner.—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 transgressed thy laws; My merits plead thy vengeance; not my cause.

Justice.—Lord, shall I strike the blow?

Jesus.—Hold, justice, stay, Sinner, speak on; what hast thou more to say?

Sinner.—Vile as I am, and of myself abhor'd, I am thy handiwork, thy creature, Lord; Stamped with thy glorious image, and at first Most like to thee, though now a poor accurs'd, Convicted catiff, and degen'rous creature, Here trembling at thy bar.

Justice.—Thy fault's the greater. Lord, shall I strike the blow?

Jesus.—Hold, justice, stay, Speak, sinner; hast thou nothing else to say?

Sinner.—Nothing but mercy, mercy, Lord; my state Is miserably poor and desperate; I quite renounce myself, the world, and flee, O Lord, to Jesus, from myself to thee.

Justice.—Cease thy vain hopes; my angry God has vowed Abused mercy must have blood for blood: Shall I yet strike the blow?

Jesus.—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.

Justice.—I cannot hold.

Jesus.—Than turn thy thirsty blade Into my side, 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.

Sinner.—O groundless deep! O love beyond degree! The offended dies to set the offender free.