Chapter CLVII

Whose wicked ways Christ open lays,
and makes their sins appear,
They making pleas their case to ease,
if not themselves to clear.
“Thy Written Word,” say they, “good
we never did enjoy;
We ne’er refus’d, nor it abus’d;
Oh, do not us destroy!“

CLVIII. [133]

“You ne’er abus’d, nor yet refus’d
my Written Word, you plead;
That’s true," quoth he, “therefore shall ye
the less be punishéd.
You shall not smart for any part
of other men’s offense,
But for your own transgressi-on
receive due recompense.“

_Insufficiency of the light of Nature._