On Relapsed Man in Paradise

When Youth with strength, wealth, and beauty flourish,
Some short joys our wanton hearts may nourish;
But when old age is much decrepid grown,
We ought with sighs and tears great Sorrows own,
For idle hours that we have vainly spent,
Without the sense of shame or punishment;
And if we die in that unhappy state,
All hopes of mercy then will come too late;
So that if age revive, and propagate
Past sins, till they do greater Crimes create,
'Twill turn old Age's Blessings into hate.
Then let no mortal man presume to think
He cannot see, when he is pleas'd to wink;
For no Man yet was ever such a Sot,
That Age his former Crimes had so forgot,
That on his Crutches thinks 'tis boldly brave,
Loaden with Crimes to creep into the Grave.
Much worse than Youth, when cross'd in his desire,
In a mad fit, dares leap into the fire:
Which shows, that all our Ages here, ne'er can
Retrieve the Curses of relapsed Man;
Till faith in Christ create a brighter flame,
Impow'ring men to have a surer claim
To Heaven, at our blessed Saviour's cost,
Than that, which Adam's disobedience loft.
By which, we the intrinsick Treasure find
Of future joys, in a Seraphick mind.