Here Grace was seised on with hands impure,
And Virtue now must be supprest by Vice,
Pure Innocencie made a prey to Sinne,
Thus did his Torments and our Joyes beginne.
In this stanza, the narrator describes the turning point—the moment—when Christ was officially going to crucified on behalf of all humanity. The narrator makes a point in this stanza to exemplify Christ’s wholesomeness and goodness in the face of humanity’s sin and spite. The narrator refers to Jesus as “Grace” and in doing so places Jesus as the source of typifying example of all Godly grace and kindness in the world. The narrator also aims to showcase the evil and sinfulness of humanity with her use of the words “impure,” and “vice” and “sinne” (sin). In this way, this stanza perfectly captures the stark differences between Jesus Christ and humanity. Whereas Christ is pure and holy—the very definition of grace—humans, the source of his torment and torture, are impure and plagued by sin.
The righteous Lord doth righteousnesse allow,
His countenance will behold the thing that's just;
Unto the Meane he makes the Mightie bow,
And raiseth up the Poore out of the dust […]
In this quotation, the narrator comments on the giving nature of Christ. She/he describes the Lord as righteous and explains that He graciously bestows this righteousness onto sinners through Jesus Christ. This stanza helps to highlight God’s graciousness; his willingness to bestow grace upon even the most undeserving of sinners. In this quotation, the narrator aims to point out that Jesus Christ is the spiritual leader of all people—regardless of whether you are rich or poor, kind or mean.
He shall within his Tabernacle dwell,
Whose life is uncorrupt before the Lord,
Who no untrueths of Innocents doth tell,
Nor wrongs his neighbour, nor in deed, nor word,
Nor in his pride with malice seems to swell,
Nor whets his tongue more sharper than a sword,
To wound the reputation of the Just;
Nor seekes to lay their glorie in the Dust.
In this lengthy stanza, the narrator once again attempts to capture the holiness and wholesomeness of Christ. He/she explains that Christ is thoroughly uncorrupt and always truthful. He is the epitome of goodness and is the standard to which all humans should aim to reach—even if it is impossible for humans to attain the same level of holiness as Christ. In this way, this stanza perfectly captures Christ’s ultimate grace and holiness. Though humans are inherently unkind and sinful, Christ—despite being part human—embodies the standard to which all humans should strive to reach.
That great Jehova King of heav'n and earth,
Will raine downe fire and brimstone from above,
Upon the wicked monsters in their berth
That storme and rage at those whom he doth love […]
Though the narrator has used the majority of this poem to heap praise upon Christ and his ultimate holiness and grace, in this stanza, he/she calls upon the violent side of God. The narrator suggests that—with our Christ’s guiding and gracious hand—God would rain “fire and brimstone” from above to punish humanity for their sins and shortcomings. The “wicked monsters” are those individuals in our society who are genuinely evil and cruel. In this way, this stanza paints a stark contrast between God and Jesus Christ. Though Christ embodies wholesomeness, holiness, and goodness, God holds the power and potential to destroy humanity, should we not learn from our sinful mistakes.
