1. Some ignorant fools blaspheme and rail
Against the just decrees that can’t but prevail,

2. Crying “What can a helpless slave avail?”
Vain cavilers avaunt! The Lord’s will must prevail.

3. They cast a man all bound into the sea,
And shout “From getting wet, good sir, flee!”

4. Then one of our persuasion makes reply
In verse, with graceful ease and mastery:

5. “If God’s compassion kept him dry all through,
What matters drowning or a wrapping new?

6. And if the Lord had destined him to sink,
He’d drown ashore just as if tossed lake in.”

7. That is, if blestness is foreseen for one,
He will be blest, no matter what is done.

8. If doom’s forewrit, the wretch will guilty be,
Though proof know naught. So say they, so say we.

9. Eternal knowledge follows in time’s wake
What’s known eternally. So spokesmen spake

10. Of old and that same doctrine do avow;
And God’s intent and prescience also bow

11. To what’s foreknown, nor does precede the same
By so much as a twinkling. ‘Tis no shame

12. Nor fault, but order fixed and wisdom high.
By terms and names He signifies thereby

13. Effects inherent in His attributes
Which He as King Eternal institutes.

14. None leads astray unless He does permit,
Nor rightly guides unless He grace to it.

15. None abases save whom God submission calls,
None gives men glory but by God it falls.

16. So of His names: held in dependence all
Are counterparts as shadows are to all

17. Tall forms. Eternally they were but known,
Not being found save in the gulf overthrown.

18. God in foreknowledge kenned and so was named
The Knower of secrets. Thus arranged, famed

19. Are causes with effects made manifest,
As perfectly decreed. Awake, attest!

20. And when God did purpose to present
To time's appearing that which He forekent,

21. He made His status as He did elect
Within the order future to effect,

22. Doing nor willing what His wisdom barred,
But that which had been perfectly prepared

23. By knowledge aforetime, by equity
And justice measureless in decree;

24. Not like some blind tyrant's wild caprice,
But weighèd in the scales of edifice

25. Where knowledge true and righteous balance hang.
His books and prophets in accord harangue

26. That He did not mere potsherds make to err,
But choices free however fates defer.

27. “The slave perforce fulfills God's firm decree”
Some mutter, blindly drifting from the quay

28. Of truth. Man's precious birthright they gainsay
Who parrot “Inevitable sway!”

29. Know God imposed no task beyond all strength
Or purposed that which might augment His wealth

30. Or treasury diminish. But He taught
Right from wrong in pure wisdom, having wrought

31. Causes efficient wise and just and made
Rank high or low when came the Judge's shade,

32. So that no compulsion men assignèd are
But preference as merit makes appear.

33. Our school's no fatalist sect which cries
“Blind destiny! Blind destiny!”

34. That makes poor slaves mere cattle. O deny
Such folly! Men act with intention. Aye!

35. God comprehended every man's intent
Then so ordainèd punishment or grace

36. From all eternity, lacking no thing,
Ere He imposed command or prohibiting.

37. Wrong and injustice are barred Him. But still
He weighs and measures by a balance till

38. Judgment exact appears. This as we ken
Is what our learned and godly elders then

39. Concluded and communicated well
To us who of their wisdom caught some spell