136 BAXTER'~ POEMS. And now the same who infant-Christians were, . And did renounce the flesh, the wor~d, and devil; Flesh, world, and devils' serious servants are, _ And Christ blaspheme as patron of their evil . . Now God and conscience.seem their greatest foes, · God as above them doth controul their lust ; He that pleads conscience for an enemy goes, And all that's done against him goes for just. God's call'd to sinners' bar, and there condemn'd; As heading rebels that do him obey: Before those fools his laws are all contenin'd, Christ must be taught to think and say as they. And being once engag'd in Satan's war: . His daring soldiers they are quickly made ; But little wit and labour needful are, To ·learn the lying, hating, hurting trade. Now valiant Bedlam, drunken, devilish wit, Conquers resistance, triumphs over all: Fights against all that help not, or submit, To bring church, kingdoms, souls, to Satan's thrall. 0 what a busy trade mad worldfings drive ! They talk, they ride, they run, contend, and fight; With craft they plot, with fraud and force they strive, For fleshly lust and poisonous delight: As the fleet swallows glide to catch a fly; And toilsome ants do gather sticks and ·straw: At dearer rates men purchase vanity, . . For Satan, lust, and madness, make their law.
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