Judgement
The Dread of the Book
The poet trembles before the Judge who will call for each person's record of deeds.
Almighty Judge, how will poor wretches endure your dreadful look—able to appall even a heart of iron—when you call for every man's own book?1
Two Approaches to the Judgment
The poet contrasts the confidence of those who claim sinless pages with his own uncertainty.
What others mean to do, I don't really know; yet I hear tell that some will turn you to certain pages in that book so free of sin that they will excel in merit.
The Testament Plea
The poet resolves to present Christ's Testament instead of his own record, where his faults become Christ's own.
But I've resolved that when you ask for mine, I'll refuse to hand it over, and put a Testament into your hand instead: let that be examined.2 There you'll find that my faults are yours.3
Read the original English
Almightie Judge, how shall poore wretches brook Thy dreadfull look, Able a heart of iron to appall, When thou shalt call For ev'ry mans peculiar book?
What others mean to do, I know not well; Yet I heare tell, That some will turn thee to some leaves therein So void of sinne, That they in merit shall excell.
But I resolve, when thou shalt call for mine, That to decline, And thrust a Testament into thy hand: Let that be scann'd. There thou shalt finde my faults are thine.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source 'peculiar book' means each person's individual account-book of life/deeds at judgment, not 'strange' or odd.
- 2 ↩“Mine” continues the previous stanza’s image of presenting one’s own record or merits at judgment; the speaker declines that self-account and offers Scripture’s Testament instead.
- 3 ↩“My faults are yours” is double-edged: the faults appear in the Testament, and they are borne by Christ, so they are no longer the speaker’s charge.
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