since you the handmaid gave And said of her you shall raise seed to me I thought this was enough to make her free I' th' house but now I see 't is otherways Favours of this kind have sudden decays However your desire I will fulfill Hagar be gone it is thy Mistress will Ang. Well said my friend for I desire the same Thy Family must from Isaack have its name And blessing too Ab. Thy will I shall obey Come Sirs get up and make no more delay The Lord commands whose laws are all to me Just though contrary they to nature be This Bread and Water take and so go hence You have abus'd your Mistress patience Though I know nothing I must not controul This peevish humour grieves my very Soul Chorus Each day hath its succeeding night Clouds sometimes darken the Suns light The Flowers that florid are to day Tomorrow Frost nips quite away Youth like a shaddow flies and age Sayth 't is my turn to tread the Stage Life must give place to grim-fac'd Death There 's nothing fixed made of Earth But all dance round and Circle make While one anothers place doth take The passions likewise have their turns One Breast with Love and Hatred burns One's sad and merry Melancholly And all sometimes are counted folly Honours and pleasures are so brittle That most wise men esteem them little In fine there 's nought but thoughts of Heaven That bringeth Wages home at Even Angel Abraham Devil Faith Flesh Despair Ang. Abra'm my faithful Servant do'st thou hear I must give thee a visit once a year Iâ—ave found thee perfect always hitherto And now I am come to try if thou wilt do What I command thee without stay or grudge Remember once thou call'd me righteous Judge Ab. I 'm here speak Lord thy Servant hears and will Count all thy precepts Just and them fulfill Ang. What could'st thou freely part withal for me Ab. What could I not since I have all from thee Ang. Then thou must take thy Son thine only Son And sacrifice him so my will is done The Mount Moriah's fittest for thy turn There thou shalt lead young Isaack and him burn This action Abraham will please me well Ab. My Lord if you command I 'le go to Hell Devil Fond fool give o're Religion makes thee mad Heav'ns Minions never yet rejoycing had Without a damp their sweet is mix'd with soure It is not possible for humane power To act what he commands being as strict As those who bid men without straw make brick Faith Give o're thou murd'ring Sp'rit do not delude The friend of God all whose commands are good If he should fear or fret at his desire Thou canst not keep him from a fiercer fire Than he is bid to kindle for his Son That 's Brimston and will last when this is done And yet will be no pleasing Sacrifice To God nor him do Abraham and be wise Flesh What Father ever yet so cruel was To Murther his own Child without a cause View but these Limbs and features of his face His sparkling Eyes then there will be no space Left in thy harden'd heart for cruelty A faithful man will never Butcher be Of humane Bodies Faith Faint flesh those Eyes and Features are but toys That fade with time and age there 's greater Joys Laid up for Isaack immortality What needs thou care then if he burned be Besides hast thou not heard how Phaenix rare Burned to ashes doth her self repair Out of the same being first a little Worm If thou believe thou need'st not fear this storm Despair Thou canst not be belov'd of God since he Bids thee perform such monstrous cruelty They say he 's merciful if it be so Thou may'st lye still and never think to go To Mount Moriah whom he loves he loves But this command rather his hatred proves Faith This is an old tone and bespeaks thee fool Know that he hath given ev'ry man his Soul Which if he back again from him requires By Famine Sword or Pestilence or Fires 'T is never to destroy that he doth this But for removall to Eternal bliss Ab. Give o're give o're now it is almost day I will no more dispute Believe and pray I will for success on my loved host I spend but time my God is at the cost He gave me Isaack and desires that he In fire and flames should from the Altar be Sent whence he came Sarah Abraham Servants Sar. My Lord I fear you have a troubled head For I could scarcely hold you in your Bed Tell me your Dream it fearful is I 'm sure For I have Dreamed too and can't endure Now when awake no not to think of it I saw a Bow from Heav'n bent and hit My darling Ab. Sarah then our Dreams are one God bids me go and burn my little Son Sar. Burn him alas I see I laugh'd too soon Then must my hopes and comforts all be gone Ab. Peace Sarah it is God requires the Lad And he shall have him if I twenty had Can I bestow them better than to give My Maker all in whom I move and live Sar. My Lord 't is but a Dream as yet forbear Such things require a double Messenger Ab. Dearest thou know'st my Dreams are always true Though such a Dream as this I never knew However honey let us with submission Part with the Lad obeying Heav'ns commission His pow'er is great so is his mercy too Thou know'st not what he is about to do For I may safely with the Boy return And if I do not there 's no cause to mourn We are but as were and he another May give whom thou may'st call Isaack's Brother The promiser is all-sufficient We can have no just cause then to repent Our Piety which always promise hath Of grace and freedom from Eternal Death Sar. My Lord he is your own and God your Friend Obey him mean while I will Prayers send For him to Heav'n as soon as you are gone And beg he may not give me cause to moan Who laugh'd before Ab. Go Sadle me my Ass and two of you Must go with me where yet I do not know Call my Boy softly tell him he must rise To see his Father offer Sacrifice Go to the Log-pile and choose out some wood Cleave none for use but that 's exceeding good Ser. Sir all is ready Ab. Sarah fare thee well Still hope in God the Lad may live and dwell Again with thee his Mother till he come To mans ' state or another in his room Sar. My doubts are over may the Lord direct You in your Journey for if he protect Or kill the Boy I shall leave to complain Perhaps he doth intend a greater gain Than either you or I as yet expect Kiss me dear Child and thou my God effect The present work my Husband is but clay And may stretch out his hand another way Than is thy will again kiss me my Son Then go with courage Heav'ns
to the weary Pilgrim on his way What 's greater joy than when he sees and wheâ— His friends receive him safe return'd agen Such straits had I in all my life yet still I sought to be submissive to the will Of my good God and shall I quest'on now That Strength and Goodness which I ever knew No thou art welcome as the Harbinger To call me hence where my affections were All this sad time that I have liv'd on earth No man's more willing to resign his breath Death Thou' rt not afraid of death as Dives was Laz. No Sir you see that I have no such cause Death You are a debtor too and 't must be paid Laz. Yes unto nature What my sins have made Me liable to th' Law when Christ did bleed He said that from the same I should be freed Whose Cross my Crown and Blood my Treasure is This being so pardon I cannot miss Death Then thou art ready Laz. Yes through Heav'ns Grace And hope e're long to see his blessed face â—n Glory Who is that behind you stands Death It is an Angel into whose blest hands You must resign your Soul Now I must see The Rich Man's Funeral Solemnitie Pride Sexton Chyrurgions Masons Carvers Pr. This loathsome pale-fac'd Death made me retire â—rom my deceased Lord whose last desire Was That you Sexton ring his passing Bell And you Embalmers dress his Body well And that you Masons out of Marble Rock â—ig for his Statue a substantial Block 〈◊〉 length sev'n foot breadth four and somewhat more â—or's just dimension as he was before â—ou'r wish'd likewise who Mallet use and Tool â—o cut th' Effigies while his wandring Soul â—oth miriads of years 'bout Lethe Streams â—ange drink and sleep until his newer Dreams Remove him to the fair Elizium Where none but such as my dear Dives come Sext. Master I went about your just Commands But flaming Spirits flood and held my hands Saying That since you you had damn'd his Soul He was no better if the Bell did towl Though then at Pray'r these unexpected words With stranger Faces and prodigious Swords Repell'd my spirits so as I seem'd to be As fit for my last Fun'ral Rite as he Pr. Well 't is no matter I and Gluttony In spight of Heav'n and Hell will Ringers be Chyrurg ' on s view the Corps and spare no cost We do too little when we do the most For our dead Father Dives by whose breath All men received either life or death Though we 'bove all as Trustees must our skill Use till we have performed his last Will. An 't shall be done Artists what say you to 't Chyr Sir Art availeth not we cannot do it The sparkling Glow-worm yesterday shin'd bright Melts into Rottenness A horrid sight Pr. Where is the leaden Coffin put him in Chyr Nor this Sir can we do he hath no skin His flesh and bones consume nothing remains So save your Gold good Sir as we our pains Pr. Is' t usual for dead men to do so Chyr No no it only speaks where he 's to go Pr. Why He 's already in th' Elizian Groves Chyr Be not deceiv'd Heav'n no corrupt'on love Pr. And do you truly think his state is bad Chyr We do so truly and think your's as sad Without Repentance Pr. Now I know ye rave Chyr We knew what we should have no more we crave Pr. Masons where is the Stone that I bespoke For 's Statue Mas Coming hither it was broke Pr. I think we shall be cross'd in each design Mas We ne're were so till now 't is a bad sign Pr. I never heard so much of these till now Mas Such om ' nous things may make a proud man bow Pr. Bow with a Pox then what must the most do Mas We answer soon learn to be humble too Pr. Be gon ye Rogues about your business Mas From such as you we ne're expected less Pr. Carvers have you no such already made Car. Yes but we must take pains about the head which we with artificial hairs must cover And in his hands put bags of Gold however Now Sir it 's done according to your mind Pr. Come take your Mony I 'll have that 's behind Mourners Thrice cursed be the day and Fate That did our bliss obliterate Our golden Mine is now shut up Its owner drinks of Styg'an Cup While we his Votaries do groan Being depriv'd of him alone From whom we all our living had All but his Flatter'rs wanted bread His Friends though few he loved well Since for them he would go to Hell Where we must leave him and repent E're our last glass of time be spent Or else we must expect that Doom To which he is too surely come For his neglect of Pietie Of which he would no lover be Our Tears are vain then let 's give o're And take possession of his store It is sufficient that his Glory Will live as long as Sacred Story And name of Dives will be sweet To every earthly Proselyte Who make their God of gilded clay Till Heav'n as him sweep them away There needs no Tomb most Rich Mens Purses Wrap him as Children by their Nurses Death Angel Lazarus Death Friend Lazarus how like you my returnâ— Laz. Well though your absence gave me cause to mourn Had not the glor'ous Light you left behind Made my past mis'ries vanish from my mind Death Doth not the Doom of the Rich Man affright Thy feeble flesh Laz. Ne're while I see this Light Which I am sure is earnest of that bliss I shall receive when come where Jesus is Keep me no longer here I am most willing Thou canst not hurt me having lost thy Sting Speaketh to the Angel And you if sent from God to be my Guide Hold fast dark night rough way may make me slide Ang. Joy of thy Lord I 'm come for that same end To bring thee safe to Heav'n he did me send Whose will I always cheerfully obey Yet e're we take our wing pray let us stay And talk of your Adventur's here below This I desire Laz. I 'll tell you what I know What entertainment had you all this time On earth Laz. As Cynthia now Full now Prime Or as bright Phebus whose resplendant Rays Give heat and light to the renewed days And yet are sometimes wrapt in Clouds and Mist That if he shine or not it is not guest Or when pale Luna overshades his face So various was my state while in this place Ang. Is there not then 'mong Mortals difference Laz. Yes that 's one cause for which I would go hence Some swim in pleasure some are drown'd in want Though this last happens where true Grace is scant The Rich oppress the Poor the fat devour The lean and yet this lasteth not an hour Being compared with Eternity Ang. Do not some say that they shall never dy Laz. Yes so said the Rich Man but yesterday Now I am almost weary of my stay For
him because they wanted bread His Sons his Daughters and his Nephews all Are now descended at the Dreamers call Whose exact number then was but three score And ten of which three had been there before Joseph the father and his children two Manass and Ephra'm then he had no mo When they th' Egyptian borders did descry Jacob to 's fourth son Judah loud did cry Go down to Joseph bid him tell me where He will me place I am a stranger there Tell him at Goshen I will tarry while He come or send and shew me what 's his will And howsoever he dispose of me His word or work to me a law shall be As soon as Judah did his brother greet With these glad tidings he prepares to meet His aged father and before him stands Bows begs his blessing with uplifted hands And he again for joy his son to see Falls on his neck kissing it ardently Weeps and embraces so that all admire The strong affections of his aged Sire Who cry'd aloud O Joseph Jeseph now My darling Joseph I am sure that thou Dost live then this I of my God will crave That he my spirit may in haste receive Since I am wholly eased of the wo Hath me perplex'd these twenty years and two Then Joseph who had all this time been stop By tears which from his Princely eyes had dropt Said Father welcom Now I must go home And tell the King that all of you are come Who I am sure at this will much rejoyce And give command that I of you dispose Where best convenience may for you be had For this to me he hath already said And I will tell if he to know desire That you are Shepherds and you aim no higher When therefore he shall ask of you this thing You shall confirm my words by answering We and our Father Keepers are of Sheep Which he 'll no sooner hear then 's promise keep And give you Goshen where you safely shall Your tender Flocks grase and your Cattel all Your dwellings also he will set apart For Shepherds grieve Egyptians at the heart Now Joseph leaves his Father in that place Returns and speaks with Pharaoh Face to Face Saying my Father and his Family Are with their Substance come to visit thee Joseph said Pharaoh of this take my hand I 'm glad to see thy Father in my Land Call some of them and let them see my Face Assure thy self they shall with me find grace I will said Joseph then he quickly takes Five of his Brethren and a Present makes To Pharaoh who did instantly enquire What is your Trade or what will you desire We 're Shepherds and Sojourners in this Land Whose greatest errand is to kiss thy hand The next to see our Brother and have place Our Flocks to feed in Canaan there 's no grass The piercing Drought so scorched hath the land That there is nothing to be seen but Sand If therefore we shall of thee favour find Grant's Goshen Pastures and for this we 'll bind Our selves to be thy Subjects and our Seed Of thee and thine shall stand in Kingly dread Then Pharaoh unto Joseph did reply Since they 'r come down what will I them deny My Crown but spare and ask what e'r they please I 'le give all things conducing to their ease My Land 's before them as for their request In Goshen for them Dwellings make in haste And for a greater proof of love to thee Choose out among them some will active be And put my Cattel all into their hands Their hire from me let it be Gold and Lands But pray thee Joseph where 's thy aged Sire His face to see I have a great desire Greatest of Kings you shall lo here he is This said old Israel doth great Pharaoh bless Saying my Lord the King of Kings protect Your Sacred Person and since you respect Me and my Sons I 'le never cease to pray For you with hands to Heav'n lift night and day My thanks said Pharaoh now I must be bold To ask one question I would know how old Thou art Good Jacob soon this answer made An hundred thirty summers I have had As many winters have I also been In pilgrimage unsettled I mean Yet few and evil if you 'l deign to look Upon a Line in this my Table-book Where is inserted faithful Abrahams age An hundred and seventy five his stage Completes my father Isaac liv'd five more Though all this time their grievances were sore This said the old man looking round about Blesseth the King takes leave and walketh out Now come said he Son since you know I have Your Kings good will a fitting place I crave Where I and all my Children safe may be From all Sedition and Conspiracy Then Joseph beckn'd to his Sire and said Rameses is the best that can be had There take possession this my Lord commands These are your Writings signed with our hands The famine's great yet Joseph wills that he Since come to Egypt have no scarcity Of bread tho'in Canaan'd Egypt there was want In so much that the most began to faint For hunger but that Egypts Nursing Father Its currant money into stores did gather And such as from Canaan was brought to buy Corn he doth put into th' Treasury Now Egypts money doth begin to waste Which made the Natives run to him in haste And say Sir you must grant us fresh supply Of bread and corn or else for want we die There 's none but you can grant us any aid Who answered You 've got as much as paid But this my counsel is which if you take To bring your cattel you will not be slack And them for corn and bread exchange with me What profit they if you of famine die The hunger-starv'd Egyptians at this Do much rejoyce yea and with blessing bless The Ruler and with chearful hearts do bring Their Horses Cattel Flocks and every thing Except their Land all 's laid at Josephs feet Who willingly receiv'd and gave them meat Poor creatures they had good cause to fear For this provision ended with that year Was but the fixth since that great want began When it was ended they to Joseph ran Again for more lay'ng out their wretched case And saying to him We must die alass Our Money gone our Cattel you did crave We brought them now our Land is all we have Come buy this also let 's not starved be And we our selves will serve our King and thee Let us have Seed that we again may try Whether our Land as yet will fructifie At this his tender heart is fill'd with grief And eyes with tears which way for their relief Procures for he to Pharaoh makes it o're Making him Landlord who was King before Their ancient Livings he bids them forsake And for the future other Dwellings take For which they should to Pharaoh Egypts King As to the owner yearly Rent in bring But to the Priests there was more