by Aisling Cruz

After Thomas Brooks

Oh what a monster, a devil would you prove,
had God not undertaken all for you!
Not a nature in hell is found viler than yours,
yet you enter heaven through open doors.

You sought not for mercy, but toiled in vain,
believing a palace where a shallow grave;
What dullness, what deadness, what murderous spite, 
making haste to kiss fires at cost of your sight!

A worm and no man, you threw dirt upon love,
forsaking the precepts and kindness thereof;
But kindness, oh kindness! God set to redeem;
Jesus the Righteous has brought us to peace.

This Spotless, this Matchless, this Innocent One
made many as righteous at cost of His blood;
Despised and refused He trod winepress alone,
crushed for our guilt as He poured out His soul.

Ah, poor sinner, what else would be gained? 
Is His blood not sufficient for every stain?
Receive from the wellspring, forsake dying world,
wise merchant at last having treasured pearl!

Rest on the freest, most ardent, most great,
fullest, unchanged, irresistible grace
that binds you to Christ by a steady hand,
and then remain proud, if you can. 

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Aisling Cruz is a Midwest-based poet and artist. Her work has most recently appeared in Oyster River Pages, Penumbra, and The Pointed Circle. When she isn’t composing poetry, you might find her whipping up a new dessert recipe or meandering through the woods.