empty Vanity in Arms. If God the Spring of Life and Pow'r By whose supplys his various Worlds endure Held back his Streams Mankind would soon expire Dissolve and into nothing strait retire Since his Perfections so transcendent are What Image can his Being represent What can you with Almighty Strength compare What Figure of Infinity invent The senseless Heathens to the Artist run Who deals in Deities of Wood and Stone The Fools bespeak an Antick lacker'd God To Guard their Persons and Abode The melted Metal in the Furnace flows Then in the Mould the stiff'ning Idol glows And when their God grows Hard and Cold The Workman makes him fine and daubs him o'er with Gold The Crowd their gaudy Deity admire Th' effect of Art the Creature of the Fire Then least their Feeble God should fall With Silver Chains they fix him to the Wall A likely Guardian this to save The Men that his Protection crave The Man that 's grown so Indigent and Poor He can't an Off'ring for his God procure To Idols he 's so much inclind Will ways to get Materials find And to engage the chiefest Artist's Care A Graven Image to prepare Tho' after all his Cost and Pains The worthless Piece fixt in his Place remains It can't advance a Step or move a Hand In his Defence that does his help demand Ye Pagan Realms that cover'd lie With the thick Darkness of Idolatry How can a Truth to all reveal'd As clear as Day be still from you conceal'd That is that God's the only God to whom You should with humble Adoration come The Starry Heav'ns which he has made The Earth whose deep Foundations he has laid His Being and his Majesty declare And shew how boundless his Perfectionâ— are Above the Circle of the Earth on high He sits enthroâ—'d amidst th' Emperial Sky Whence when he casts his Eyes around And views the Earth hung low in Air As little Insects creeping on the Ground Contemptible Mankind appear The Heav'nly Sphears as Curtains he expands With Orbs of Light Magnificent His fine transparent Ether with his Hands He spreads to form his Royal Tent. He at his Pleasure can destroy The Kings that greatest Pow'r and Wealth enjoy He can their royal Heads uncrown And from their Thrones can cast them headlong down Deep Root they shall not take nor spread Amidst the Clouds their shady Head Blasted and with th' Almighty's Breath opprest As with a furious Tempest from the East Their ruin'd Branches shall decay And fade like with'ring Plants away Where then says God can Men my Equal see What Object can resemble me Lift up O Man on high thy wond'ring Eyes Regard the Palace of the Holy One View the bright Constellations of the Skies Where he has â—ixt his Adamantine Throne Did not th' Eternal from th' Abyss of Night Call forth those Heav'ns and all those Orbs of Light Do they not run their Courses and dispence At his Command their Light and Influence He their great Gen'ral Day by Day Draws out his glitt'ring Armys in Array In constant Musters on th' Etherial Plains The Squadrons he reviews and all their Posts ordains As Master of his Starry Family He calls his shining Servants out by Name Gives them their Tasks to which they all agree Whereby his Pow'r and Greatness they proclaim Why dost thou say O Iacob I complain And make to God my moan in Vain He to my Sorrow no Compassion shows Neglects my Tears and disregards my Woes The proud Oppressors cruel Yoke Does not his vengeful Wrath provoke I am no more th' Almighty's Care Else he would hear my mournful Pray'r And not desert me in my deep Despair He 'll be no more my Advocate My Cause to manage in debate He will no more my Injuries redress No more condemn my Foes who me oppress He 's pleas'd so long his People to disown That now our Case is desp'rate grown Now if he would he can't assistance give We 're ruin'd and undone past all retrieve O dost thou not unthoughtful Iacob know Who made the Heav'ns above and Earth below Did not thy God th' Eternal Lord Create them with his great commanding Word He rules the World he made with equal Laws Will such a God desert his Peoples Cause Will he that all things wisely does direct His People's Interests neglect Will he their Suff'rings slight and earnest Pray'rs reject He grows not faint nor does his Vigour wast With Age or with his Labour past His undeclining Strength feels no decay Still can he punish those who disobey He can as strong an arm as e'er extend To crush his Foes his People to defend Nor dos he with a less attentive Ear The Crys of guiltless Suff'rers hear But then the Seasons of Deliv'rance rest As Secrets in th' Almighty's Breast The Depths of Providence are fathomless Nor will its Heights admit access And therefore in his Pleasure Man must Acquiesce He to his People still Deliv'rance sends When it promotes their Good and serves his glorious Ends. His Counsels which so far exceed our reach Sould Patience and Submission teach He gives supplies of Pow'r to those that want Strengthens the Feeble and revives the Faint The Youngest Men in whose distended Veins And brawny Nerves Athletic Vigor reigns If they on God should not rely Would quickly languish sink and die But those who humbly on his Strength depend Their stock of Vigor ne'er shall spend He 'll reinforce them with recruits of Pow'r And their decaying Strength restore They shall on Wings like Eagles mount on high And with like force and swiftness cut the Sky They shall or Walk or Run still forward press And ne'er complain of Weariness God daily shall their Strength encrease That they their Burdens may sustain with Ease Till he shall chuse his time his Captives to release Part of the LII And the whole LIII Chap. of Isaiah PARAPHRAS'D MY Servant shall acquire divine Renown And regal Honours shall his Temples crown Kings at his Feet their Diadems shall lay And all the willing World his Empire shall obey His Godlike Government and righteous Laws From Men and Angels shall receive applause He shall his own and Subjects Rights maintain Protect his Friends Oppressors rage restrain And everlasting Peace shall bless his glorious Reign As Men at his Affliction were amaz'd And on his wondrous Woe with Horror gaz'd Whose Face was so deform'd his Flesh so worn With all the Toyl and Torments he had born No Eye e'er saw no Tongue can e'er express Such perfect Grief such infinite distress So shall he be exalted and his height Shall bear proportion to his humble state His Heav'nly Doctrines on the Nations round Shall fall as dropping Rain upon the Ground Attentive Monarchs with a greedy Ear Shall all his wise Divine Instructions hear They 'll with profound Humility receive The Oracles and Counsels he shall give No more their impious Tongues shall him condemn No more Religion or its God blaspheme His Godlike
to such amazing height Such is my Grief 's unsufferable Weight My Soul to such extremity is driv'n That I must still implore the God of Heav'n That I may find the Blessing I require That he would grant my passionate desire That he my Life in Mercy would destroy And let me Death for which I long enjoy That he would bowels of Compassion show And loose his Hand to give the fatal blow To welcome Death I would my Arms extend Embrace and hug my Dear tho' ghastly Friend Did I but see the kind Deliverer near Did from the Grave some dawning hope appear This Anodyne my Anguish would appease That with my Life my Grief would quickly cease I 'd then a firm unshaken Courage show Harden'd in Grief and strengthen'd by my Woe I hate to live of Death I 'm not affraid Conscious that Heav'n I strictly have obey'd What is my Strength how weak and how absurd Is it to hope it er'e shall be restor'd What is my End where is my Period set When I no more shall my sad moans repeat Wasted and worn I linger and complain And by prolonging Life prolong my Pain I from your Love and Council hop'd Relief Thought your Discourses would abate my Grief But your perverse unskilful ways confess You know not how to treat your Friend's distress Mistaking my Distemper you enrage The sharp Disease but not the Pain asswage Am I a Marble Rock that cannot feel Are all my Muscles Brass my Sinews Steel That I this mighty Load of Grief must bear While Death which I invoke neglects my Pray'r And at a distance keeps deriding my Despair O â—lipâ—az was I desponding left Of help without and sense within bereft Yet still a Friend Compassion should express To one in such Affliction and Distress As when with burning heat a Trav'ller â—ry'd Finds out the Brook but sees the Channel dry'd Where he expected cooling Streams should flow Sinâ—â— 't was in Winter fill'd with Ice and Snow But when the Waters felt a warmer heat They rose in Vapours and forsook their Seat Won by the Summer's importuning Ray Th' eloping Flood did from its Channel stray And with enticing Sun-beams stole away The Trav'ller casting down a troubled look Sighs and upbraids the false deceitful Brook Fair Sheba's Convoys and the thirsty Troops Of Tema mourn their disappointed Hopes Conâ—ounded they express their Grief and Shame To find the Banks without th' expected Stream No less am I amaz'd no less I grieve That you my bosom Friends my hopes deceive You are unable to afford me Aid Seeing my Grief you start and are affraid Do my prodigious Woes my Friends amaze Why do you wildly stare and at a distance gaze Has my Disease this Consternation bred D' ye fear my Ulcers will Infection spred D' ye fear your Friend now Poor will craving grow And beg Supplies of you to ease his Woe Did I e'er importune my Friends to grant Part of their Substance to relieve my want Did ever Iob at your Expence demand To be deliver'd from th' Oppressor's hand If your Instructions can my Ways correct Thankfull I 'll hold my Peace and not reject The Heav'nly Light that will my Crime detect Right Reason's Beams a quick admission find And breaking all Obstructions force the Mind But whom can your Weak Arguments confute Short or beside the Mark you ever shoot Will you your Ignominious Slanders throw And tho' I am your Friend insult my Woe Almost bereft of sense yet I can find Your Words are vain and empty as the Wind. Your Indiscretion far from your Intent With cruel Comforts does my Grief augment You sink me down too low before deprest And in your subtile Snares your Friend Arrest And now if you my Troubles would survey And with deliberate Thoughts my Sorrow weigh You would pronounce I justly did Complain Acquit my Speeches and your own Arraign Return I pray to Reason's Paths return You 'll then assert my Cause my Suff'rings mourn You will deâ—end my Righteousness and all Your rash and unconsider'd Words recall I do not find my Reason so debas'd Nor yet so undistinguishing my Taste But I can see your words are misapply'd They cannot Truth 's Impartial Test abide CHAP. VII The Life of Man has a determin'd date Fix'd by Divine Irrevocable Fate His Days will at a certain time expire As his who lets his Labour out for Hire The Weary Slave does for the Evening pray Knowing his Labour ceases with the Day Then why should I with toilsom Life opprest Not be allow'd to pray for Death and Rest Th' uneasy Day in ling'ring Pain I spend And think the tedious Night will never end By Night when Men their anxious Thoughts disband And gently strok'd by Slumber's downy hand Reluctant Cares at last from raging cease And Sleep till Morn to give the Wretched Peace Ev'n then my restless Thoughts to vex my Soul In everlasting Agitations roll My salvage Grief let loose like Beasts of Prey By Night grows more outragious than by Day My swelling Sorrows never will subside But higher rise in their Nocturnal Tyde A thousand times I turn but turn in vain I change my Side but always keep my Pain With longing Eyes I seek the dawning Light But Woe succeeds as Day succeeds the Night My Ulcerated Flesh is cloath'd with Worms And Putrefaction every Limb deforms My Days in quick Succession go and come As the swift Shuttle traverses the Loom Lord in Compassion to me call to mind That swift-wing'd Life out-flys the fleetest Wind. No grateful Object more shall please my Sight No more Harmonious Sounds my Ear delight I must for ever my Abode forsake For ever of my Friends my Farewell take Shouldst thou displeas'd give me a frowning Look I sink I dy as if with Light'ning struck As ruin'd Clouds dissolve and flow in Air And ne'er their lost Connexion can repair So he that once descends into the Tomb Before the great and Universal Doom No more his Form and Vigor will resume He 'll never break the Leaden Chains of Death Nor more by turns exclude and draw his Breath He shall no more enjoy his former home Nor from the Grave to his dear Neighbours come Since Life by Common Fate must quickly cease And griping Death will ne'er her Prey release I 'll not refrain but for Compassion Cry For some repose and Ease or else to Dye I 'll speak for Grief is bold and eloquent My Prayers and Crys shall give my Sorrow vent Expostulations and Complaints shall ease My tortur'd Soul and the sharp Pain appease Am I a vast a wild Impetuous Deep That thou art forc'd to set thy Watch and keep Me thus in Bounds Can I e'er dangerous grow E'er pass my Banks and o'er the Region flow Am I a furious Monster of the Main That thou in Fetters dost my Rage restrain No. I extended lye upon my Bed And on my Couch repose my restless Head But then if Sleep around me nodding flyes With
gaping Chasms amazing to the Sight Mingle the Day with Subterranean Night Th' inclining Poles as wrench'd aside appear And diving Isles conceal themselves for fear At his Command the rising Sun will stay And from the World keep back the ling'ring Day His marshal'd Clouds to intercept the Light Seal up the Stars the twinkling Eyes of Night The spreading Heav'n's he as a Curtain draws Treads down aspiring Waves and gives the Ocean Laws With Orbs of Light he inlays all the Sphears And studs the Sable Night with Silver Stars He all the Constellations hangs on high And bids the Planets wander thro' the Sky Stormy Areturus round the Northern Pole By his direction does unweary'd roll Orion and the Pleiades dispence At his Command their Rays and Influence His skillful hand on Airy Pillars reers The Vaulted Chambers of the Southern Spheres The long Succession of his Mighty Deeds Our everlasting Admiration feeds Behind a black impenetrable Screen Of Pitchy Clouds th' Allmighty walks unseen He that to follow in his Steps essays Thro' all his craggy dark perplexing Ways Scar'd by the sacred Horrors of the Place Will own the Maze Divine he cannot trace Nor the black Gulph and trackless Mountains pass He 'll stand astonish'd and bereft of Sense Lost in the awful Wilds of Providence If he his settled Purpose has exprest A Man of Wealth and Honour to divest What hardy Mortal will his Power withstand Or dares a reason why 't is done demand Till God withdraws the heavy galling Yoke And reconcil'd forbears th' afflicting Stroke Those who would rescue may their Pride express But by their fall their weakness shall confess Since none a Match in Power with God contends And none his Ways and Counsels comprehends Can I pretend to speak my Case to state And grapple with th' Allmighty in debate Can I his Ear with chosen Language charm And God of all his Arguments disarm Tho' I believ'd my Cause most Right and Just I would my doubtful Innocence distrust I would not plead with God but only pray That Justice he with Mercy would allay Tho' he should kindly grant me my Request Yet I so much despond am so Distrest That I th' amazing Truth should ne'er believe But as a gawdy Dream the joyful News receive Both sharp and lasting Suff'rings I have born With Wrath Divine as with a Tempest torn He perseveres and multiplies his Strokes Tho' no uncommon Guilt his Wrath provokes So fast his fierce redoubled Blows descend That I can scarce to all my Wounds attend No breathing Time is giv'n no short Relief From exquisite and never-ceasing Grief Should I his Throne with all my force Assail Against Allmighty Strength can I prevail If I Appeal to Judges and to Laws What higher Court can Sit to hear my Cause If I my Righteousness before him plead Will not my Words to my Conviction lead Will he not thence my Condemnation draw And in my purest Virtue find a flaw Should God pronounce me just yet I 'd refuse Uneasy Life and Death's Embraces chuse To all things you advance to represent God's Power and Justice fully I assent But then you err when you assert that God Exempts the Righteous from his scourging Rod. No Fav'rite Son is from his Frown secure But in his Turn does his sharp Stripes endure The Foolish from the Wise you cannot know By the false marks of Happiness or Woe 'Twixt Good and Bad there 's no distinction made Unless more frequent Darts the Good invade Against the Just th' Allmighty's Arrows fly For he delights the Innocent to try To show their Constant and their God-like Mind Not by Afflictions broken but refin'd He to the Wicked gives the Earth away And raises Monsters to Imperial Sway. He makes them Peace and Plenty to possess And crowns their Undertakings with Success While Men for Empire fit and Publique Trust Quick in discerning in deciding Just Worthy of Thrones Men of unblemish'd Fame Are oft expos'd to Misery and Shame This is th' Allmighty's Deed if not declare Its genuine Authors who and where they are My Life consumes in never-ceasing Woe My rolling Days uninterrupted flow To disembogue their Flood within the Deep Where all the Streams of Time collected Sleep No eager Couriers in their greatest haste Nor Ship before the Wind advance so fast The Eagle from the Mountains Airy top To strike his Prey does ne'er so swiftly stoop If I resolve my Sorrow to forget That I 'll no more my rash Complaints repeat That my unbridled Passion I 'll restrain This humble Resignation is in vain For God will never my Distress relieve He 'll punish on and tempt Men to believe That Iob by some unusual black Offence Has Heav'n provok'd such Judgments to dispence In vain I strive my Innocence to clear Since I must still these grievous Suff'rings bear Still the sad marks of Heav'n's displeasure wear If by my Vindication I should grow As clean and spotless as the Fleecy Snow When God replies my Stains before conceal'd To my Confusion would be all reveal'd My Foulness he 'll detect that I no more Should boast my Cleanness but my self abhor He 's not a Man my equal in dispute That I should hope his Reasons to refute Can I in Courts of Judgment take my place And plead against th' Allmighty Face to Face In this Debate what Umpire shall preside Hear all our Arguings and the Cause decide Let him his Terrors and his Rod withdraw And let his Mercy mitigate his Law For humane Frailty due Allowance make And I with Courage will my Tryal take I then will boldly speak and free from fear I 'll quickly make my Innocence appear But this request th' Allmighty does refuse He does the Rigour of his Justice use His awful Terrors which my Soul surround Drink up my Spirits and my Hope confound As I have done I therefore will complain This only way is left to sooth my Pain CHAP. X. My constant Woes such constant Groans create That Life 's a black uncomfortable State My Soul abhors this loathsom Lump of Clay Longs to be free to wing to Heav'n its way I 'll make my moan to give its Sorrow vent Else will my Breast be with its Tempest rent I cannot smother such Gigantick Woe Nor on my raging Grief a Muzzle throw I can't forbear to God I 'll thus complain As one that 's Wicked do not me Arraign Why dost thou let me thus in torment lye And thus in vain for Heav'n's Compassion Cry Do not thy Servant by uncommon Woes To Publique Censure and Reproach expose Mankind will Me Condemn and cry we know His Crime 's enormous since his Pain is so Can God Complacence in Oppression take And vex his Creatures for the Pleasure's sake O can a God of Mercy cruel grow No Pity feel no tender Passion show Can God my Father e'er Unnatural prove Shut up his Bowels and forget to love Will he with hostile Force his Sons invade Pleas'd
chase The wicked Man and all his hateful Race No Offspring in his Dwelling shall remain His Family and Honour to sustain Ages to come with Horror shall relate His suddain Ruin and his dismal Fate As that he liv'd in was amaz'd to see So strange a Turn such Woe and Misery So shall the Hopes of all the wicked end Such Desolation does their House attend CH. XIX Then Iob reply'd How long will you my righteous Cause perplex How long my Ears with idle Speeches vex Must Answers void of Sense and Argument And grave Impertinence my Soul torment You wound me with your contumelious words And slanders sharper than the keenest Swords Iob in Affliction you refuse to know And a shy Stranger 's unconcernness show Grant I have sinn'd yet in my Flesh I bear Strokes of vindictive Justice so severe That I with Reason might from Friends expect Commiseration not such proud neglect If you with such censorious Arrogance And haughty words against me will advance If you will still such black Indictments read If you will still my Innocence implead Consider coolly my afflicted State Should your imperious scorn new Grief create And to th' unequal load add greater weight I by th' Almighty's Arm am overthrown And prest beneath his heavy Vengeance groan Inevitable Snares his hand has set And drawn around me his destructive Net To Heav'n with fruitless Accents I complain Of this hard measure this excess of Pain And Cry to be redress'd but Cry in vain By Heav'n forsaken I am left a Prey To Woes that me encompass every way Inexorably Deaf th' Almighty stands Rejects my Prayer and minds not my Demands He in my Paths has such Obstructions laid And fenc'd me in with such a close Blockade That I must ever lye without Relief In this dark Prison this Strong-hold of Grief No golden thread of Light the way will show And let me thro' this Labyrinth of Woe Of all my Glory I am stript the Crown From my dishonour'd Head is fallen down I 've lost my Power my Children my Renown I 'm perfectly destroy'd I 'm lost undone And never to return my Hope is gone A miserable Object here I lye A Wretch that would not live and cannot dye His Fury kindles of its own accord And unprovok'd he waves his glitt'ring Sword Against me as his Foe he throws his Dart And yet he knows my Zeal and upright Heart Black Troops of Suffrings Regimented Woes In Battle drawn their swarming Throngs disclose On me they come and marking out the Ground Th' Infernal Legions lye encamp'd around Brethren and Kindred treat me as unknown Break Nature's Bonds and their own Blood disown Familiar Friends who kindly me embrac't Forget me now and all our Friendship past Those of my Houshold in Rebellion rise Mock me their Lord and my Commands despise I to my Servant for Assistance cry He minds me not but Scoffing passes by And lets me helpless and neglected lye My sore Disease does from my Presence fright My Wife and makes her to abhor my sight Tho' I my earnest Supplication make And beg and pray for our dear Childrens sake Those tender Pledges of our mutual Love Yet no entreaties her Compassion move She will not stay to help me in distress And by condoling words her Love express Disdainful Youth and Children me despise Tho' to salute them from my Seat I rise My bosom Friends whom chiefly I before Esteem'd and lov'd now chiefly me abhor My Skin and Flesh are perish'd from the Bone The Boils have spar'd my Mouth and Lips alone To let me make my lamentable moan Some Pity O my Friends some Pity take On my distress for antient Friendship 's sake I am abandon'd and despairing left Of Riches Honour Children Friends bereft Remark the grievous Wounds my sore Disease Has made thro' all my Flesh but what are these Compar'd with those which in my Soul I feel Inflicted by th' Almighty's fatal Steel O then in soft Compassion's Arms relent Retract your Speeches and my Fate lament Will you assume the Priviledge of God And when you please afflict me with your Rod Inhumane Friends say does it not suffice That all consum'd with pain my Body lies But you my Soul with ill Discourses wound Empty of Sense tho' they with Gall abound O that my Speech was written that my Words Were Register'd and kept in safe Records O that an Iron Pen's repeated stroke Would grave deep Furrows in the Marble Rock Let Letters fill them up of inlaid Lead That all to come may my Profession read I solemnly pronounce that I believe That my Redeemer does for ever live When future Ages shall their Circuit end And Bankrupt Time shall its last Minute spend Then he from Heav'n in Triumph shall descend He on the Surface of the Earth shall stand And from the Grave his Captive Saints demand The slumb'ring Dead shall waken at his Call And from their Limbs their Leaden Chains shall fall Victorious Life at his Command shall fleeâ— To vanquish Death and set her Pris'ners free It shall new warmth and vital Vigour spread Thro' all the cold Apartments of the Dead It shall in Triumph march thro' Shades beneath Thro' all the dusty Galleries of Death Th' invading Conquerour shall Sack the Grave Force every Tomb and rescue ev'ry Slave Destruction's Empire shall no longer last Death from her sad Dominions shall be chas't And Desolation laid for ever wast From opening Tombs th' enliven'd Dead shall rise And to enjoy the Light lift up their wond'ring eyes Tho' Worms and Putrefaction shall consume This mortal Body in the silent Tomb I shall revive and from the Grave arise And see my God with these corporeal Eyes I for my Self shall see the blessed sight For my own Profit for my vast Delight He shall my Virtue from your Slanders clear Assert my Cause and Iob pronounce sincere This is th' unshaken Pillar of my Hope This does my Soul opprest with Sorrow prop That tho' as I have said the rav'ning Worm Shall eat my Flesh and break this mortal Form My reunited Parts I shall assume When my Redeemer does to Judgment come For ever to be clear'd by an impartial Doom But you my Friends no doubt will still aver That Persecuting me you do not err You 'll say that in my Conduct may be found For your Censorious words abundant ground But of th' Almighty's Justice be afraid His dreadful Vengeance will your Heads invade He will from Heav'n consuming Wrath reveal Against all fierce uncharitable Zeal The Day is coming when the Judge supream Will your rash Words and Cruelty condemn CH. XX. He said and Zophar thus in heat reply'd Such is thy Obstinacy such thy Pride With such disdain thou dost our Reasons slight And art so careful to exclude the Light All thy own Words so full and weighty seem To thee sufficient in thy own esteem That I no farther Argument design'd To Cure a Man so obstinately Blind But since transported
Strength in Troops repair'd They left their old Abodes to be possest By Owls and Bats and every rav'ning Beast Until their fruitful Land at last Became a wild Inhospitable Wast O Israel these were thy sad Wants and Woes These thy Oppressions when I Deb'rah rose When I arose a Mother to restore Thy former Peace and Wealth and Pow'r Till then thy blind Apostate Sons forsook Theirs and their Father's God and took New fangled Gods of old unknown Gods lately into Reputation grown Gods carv'd in Wood or cut in Stone Heav'n thus provok'd excited Foes Who full of rage against our Citys rose Confed'rate Kingdoms War with Israel wag'd And horrid Slaughter in our Bowels rag'd And well it might for we were so disarm'd That when the Foe our Gates alarm'd Did there a single Shield or Spear Midst forty Thousand Israelites appear O Israel then I rose to rescue thee From thy vile Chains to set thee free Nor can my Song too much exalt the Fame Of those great Chiefs who freely came To give me Aid and to subdue our Foes Did gen'rously their Lives expose Give them their due Applause but chiefly bless The God who gave them Courage and Success Ye Lords in Courts of Judgment who preside And thro' the Streets in awful State With num'rous Trains attended ride Th' Almighty's wondrous Work relate Ye People who can leave your safe Abodes And travel now secure in Publick Roads You that do now in Joy and Peace Your Fig-trees and your Vines possess You who no more the noise of Archers hear But unmolested to your Springs repair Do you rehearse God's righteous Deeds Whence this your unexpected Peace proceeds Awake awake O Deborah awake Quickly thy Harp and Timbrel take A Song of Triumph and of Joy rehearse In lofty Strains and noble Verse A Song that may just Honour pay To the great Deeds of this illustrious Day O Barak rise arise thou valiant Chief Whose Conqu'ring Arms have brought relief To Israel in our vast distress And made our haughty Foes their Impotence confess Thou mighty Man advance and lead along Thy Spoils and Trophys thro' the cleaving Throng Thy Captives lead in clanking Chains All their vast Army's small Rematns Thou who the dreadful Battel didst display On that decisive glorious Day Now draw thy Pomp and Triumph in Array Iacob's Remains by Heav'n with Empire crown'd Have laid their Yoke on Canaan's Kings around Ev'n me the Lord has rais'd to Regal Sway And made the Mighty my Commands obey Thy Sons did first the War embrace Forward in Arms O Benjamin And next to thee a few of Ephraim's Race Advanc'd and joyn'd their Troops with thine Rulers and Nobles from Manasses came Whose brave example did the rest inflame The Scribes of Zebulun and learned Men To weild the Sword laid down the Pen. The Princes and the Lords of Issachar Despising Danger undertook the War With Zeal they follow'd me their Head And Barak to the Field their valiant Squadrons led Ah Reuben how were we dismay'd To be defrauded of thy Aid Ah why didst thou desert thy Country's Cause Why did not Reuben share this day's applause Say when thy Breth'ren arm'd with Sword and Shield For Liberty advanc'd into the Field Why didst thou sullen in thy Tents abide As if in Blood and Int'rest not Ally'd Couldst thou to Arms thy Shepherd's Crook prefer And rather chuse thy bleating Sheep to hear Than the loud Thunder of a noble War Oh how much Trouble to our State Did this ignoble Deed of thine create Gilead beyond the Flood of Iopran stay'd And of the haughty Foe afraid Refus'd to give his Brethren Aid Dan on his Wealth and Shipping too intent No Succours to our Army sent Asher with like inglorious Negligence Trusting to Rocks and Caves as his defence Stay'd on the Shore and no Assistance gave Our Worship or our Liberty to save But oh what wondrous Deeds were done By Napthali and Zebulun With what an ardour what a warlike rage Did those brave Men in Fight engage Methinks I see those Warriours make Their bold and irresistible Attack Greedy and fond of Danger they The Squadrons cleft and cut the way To the chief Places of the Field Which did the chiefest choice of ruin yield Which were with plenty of Destruction stor'd And all the horrid shapes of danger did afford Where Death triumphant in the Battel stood Besmear'd with Brains and Dust and Blood Great Potentates of formidable Fame Captains and Kings against us came Their confluent Troops from every Coast Compos'd a vast o'erâ—lowing Host. We saw th' advancing Deluge from afar And all the must'ring Tydes of complicated War They stopt and in Battalia stood Upon the Banks of Kishon's Flood Thither our eager Squadrons flew There did we fight and there proud Iabin's Troops subdue The radiant Host of Stars above Drew out and did in warlike order move They did their Darts from Heav'n's high Turrets throw And charg'd with fatal influence the Foe They to our Aid their glitt'ring Forces brought And against Sisera in their Courses fought O Kishon then thy troubled Tyde Was choak'd with Carcasses with Crimson dy'd Swords Helmets Shields roll'd all beneath And of the lighter Instruments of Death Spears Arrows Darts a floating Wood O'erspread the surface of thy Flood Thy current swept their Troops away And with their mighty Spoils enrich'd the wondring Sea Thy banks and all the Vale about Were spread with marks of ignominious rout Chariots o'erturn'd and scatter'd Shields And broken Hoofs deform'd the Fields Hoofs torn and on the stony places cast O'er which the flying Horsemen past Accurst th' Almighty's Angel cry'd Accurst be Meroz who her help deny'd Vengeance and Plagues on her vile People light Who would not for their God and Country fight But let us Iael's Courage sing Let loud Applauses thro' our Citys ring Of Heber's Wife above the rest Of Womankind may she be blest Great Sis'ra choak'd with heat and dust Demanded Water from the Spring She to allay the Gen'ral's thirst Did Milk and Cream in costly Vessels bring She to the Nail the left apply'd And with her right hand did the Hammer guidâ— And as the mighty Sisera Stretcht on the Pavement â—leeping lay Th' undaunted Woman with a noble blow Drove in the Nail and pierc'd his Temples thro Amaz'd not waken'd with the Wound He sprung and bounded from the ground The brave Virago did her blow repeat And laid him prostrate at her feet He bow'd and fell and gasping lay Quiver'd and groan'd his Life away She drew his Sword and with a Manly stroke The Warriours Head from off his Shoulders took His Mother looking thro' her Window said Why is his Triumph thus delay'd Why does his lingring Chariot stay Why roll his Wheels so slowly on the way Her Maids nay she her self reply'd The Conqu'rors stay their Booty to divide The distribution made each Chief can shew A Damsel for his share or two But Sis'ra's Prey outshines the rest His
That made thy Flood break Nature's Laws Thy Course thou didst not only stop And roll thy liquid Volumes up But didst ev'n backward flow to hide Within thy Fountain's Head thy refluent Tyde What did the lofty Mountains ail What Pangs of Fear did all the Hills assail That they their Station could not keep But scar'd with danger run like tim'rous scatter'd Sheep But why do I demand a Cause Of your Amazement which deserves Applause Yours was a just becoming Fear For when th' Almighty does appear Not only you but the whole Earth should quake And out of Rev'rence should its place forsake For he is Nature's Sov'raign Lord Who by his great commanding Word Can make the Floods to solid Crystal grow Or melt the Rocks and make their Marble flow THE CXLVIII PSALM PARAPHRAS'D YE bright Immortal Colonys That People all the Regions of the Skys That in your blissful Seats above Inhabit Glory dwell in Light and Love Ye mighty Gen'rals who command Th' Almighty's Host ye Ministers that stand In his blest Presence to receive What Orders he is pleas'd to give Ye Guards and Houshold Servants who resort To pay attendance at his Court Ye Saints and Seraphs who astonish'd see His Greatness and essential Majesty Tune your Celestial Harps and sing The Triumphs of th' Eternal King All ye his Heav'nly Hosts applaud In long continu'd Shouts your wonder-working God Ye Sun and Moon and Stars that grace the Night Praise him the unexhausted Spring of Light Whence your dependent Influence streams Whence you derive your delegated Beams Exalt his Name and spread his Praise As far as you diffuse your Rays Let all the glorious Worlds above agree In this Celestial Harmony And let the dancing ecchoing Sphears around Reverberate the Joy and propagate the sound Ye thin transparent Regions of the Air And all ye flying Nations there With one melodious Voice th' Eternals Praise declare Let Tempests with their stormy Noise And Thunder with its roaring Voice God's own Artillery proclaim Thro' all the list'ning World th' Eternal's Fame From ev'ry Quarter all ye Winds arise On whose swift Wings th' Almighty flys When he his Progress makes into th' inferiour Skys Blow all your Blasts and all your Breath employ In loud Applauses and in Songs of Joy Ye Vapours that by God's Command arise To fill Heav'n's Magazines with fresh Supplys And for the Meteors new Materials bring As you ascend to Heav'n th' Eternal's Praises sing Ye Clouds that by pursuing Winds are driv'n Pour with your Rain your Praises forth Let these ascend as high as Heav'n As that descends to bless the Earth Praise the Divine Artificer Ye Lightnings which his Hands prepare And all ye curious Fireworks of the Air. Praise him ye other Meteors of the Sky Ye Hailstones Mists and Woolly Snow The Manufactures which he works on high For Nature's Service here below Let Nature's mighty Sov'raign Lord Be by the Deep and all the Floods ador'd In Consort let the Billows roar And make his Praise rebound from Shore to Shore Let the scaly People dance Before 'em let their Lords the mighty Whales advance And high amidst the Air on this great Day Let all the Waterworks from their vast Nostrils play And while the Deep the Air and Sky Vocal become th' Almighty's Name to raise Let not the Earth stand silent by But joyn to celebrate his Praise Ye Dragons Wolves and all ye salvage Kind On ecchoing Hills in Consort joyn'd To him your Adoration pay Whose Bounty in the Desart finds you Prey Do you your Gratitude express And make his Praises ring thro' all the Wilderness Ye Pines and Cedars tune your selves to play Th' Almighty's Praises on this solemn Day And sing ye Mountains Hills and Floods To th' Instrumental Music of the Woods Ye Kings the King of Kings adore And at his Feet your borrow'd Scepters lay Applaud the Spring of all Imperial Pow'r You 're here but Subjects and should Homage pay Let Songs of Praise the Gratitude attest Of Aged Men long by his Favours blest Let rapt'rous Zeal Young Men and Maids inflame To celebrate their Maker's Fame Let lisping Infants at his Praises aim Let all th' Eternal's Works conspire To execute this blest design To praise him let them all combine And make the World one Universal Quire THE Song of MOSES PARAPHRAS'D DEUT. Chap. 32. ATtend O Heav'ns and you Empyreal Sphears Did you possess as many list'ning Ears As Starry Eyes all as you roll along Should be employ'd to hear my following Song To my important words a while attend And back my Notes in tuneful Ecchoes send Peace ye tumultuous Waters of the Deep A while ye yelling Monsters silence keep And let the Billows roll and rock themselves asleep Be still ye Earthquakes in the Caves beneath Ye Winds be husht and stop your stormy Breath Thunders your bellowing deaf'ning Noise forbear Tempests be gone and leave in Peace the Air That so the quiet Earth and Air and Sea Without disturbance may attention pay Whilst I th' Almighty's wondrous Deeds display And let not my Divine Discourse be vain Let it distill as Dew and drop as Rain That in their grassy Garments cloaths the Hills And with rich Fruits the smiling Vally fills Whilst I to all the World aloud proclaim His Majesty his great and awful Name Whilst I his Triumphs sing ye Tribes do you To God ascribe the Pow'r and Glory due God is a Rock unchang'd by Ages past And by the future shall unshaken last Perfect are all his Works and all his Ways From Truth 's Eternal Rule he never strays Upright and Equal all his Acts appear He 's just when kind and gracious when severe Therefore ye Sons of Iacob be it known On your own heads you 've pull'd Destruction down Your black Offences have incens'd your God And forc'd his hand to take his vengeful Rod. Say not that yours the Faults of Children are Which a kind Father is induc'd to spare Your Crimson Spots your foul and loathsome stains Tell the rank Poison that infects your Veins Your unexampled Contumacy shows You are not Children but invet'rate Foes Th' Almighty's Goodness do you thus despise Ah foolish Generation and unwise Your Great Deliverer do you thus requite His Pow'r and Mercy thus perversly slight You by a vast expence of Wonders bought He from your Bondage back from Egypt brought He then advanc'd you to Imperial Sway And made the Pagan Kings your Laws obey From all Mankind he chose you for his own And did your Sons with Pow'r and Plenty crown Consult our antient Fathers to the source Of our recorded Story have recourse You 'll find when God did with a lib'ral hand Among the Nations give the parted Land He Canaan's happy Region did divide Where Iacob's Offspring should at last reside He from the Pagan did his People bound And for himself fenc'd this Inclosure round And blest with his Abode the sacred Ground To Wealth and Pow'r he Israel did
is a party-colour'd Vest Which Gems and rich Embroidery adorn Fit by the greatest Princes to be worn These boastful words she spoke while Sisera Dead in the Tent of Iael lay Lord let his Fate attend thine Enemys So let them perish who against thee rise But let the Men who Wickedness abhor Who love thee and thy Name adore Be like the Sun Who when refresh'd does in his Vigour rise Eager to run All the blew Stages of the spacious Skys David's Lamentation Occasion'd by the Death of Saul and Ionathan 1 SAMUEL Chap. I. WHen Ionathan and Saul expiring lay On the curst Hills of Gilbâ—a Ah black inglorious fatal Day 'T was then unhappy Israel Thy Beauty Strength and Glory fell How were thy mighty Warriours slain What a red Deluge bath'd the reeking Plain How were thy Sons to Conquest long inur'd How were thy Valiant Chiefs devour'd By the Philistine's unrelenting Sword How terrible how sudden was their Fate These Pillars fal'n that prop'd thy State Who shall support thy sinking Empire's weight Let Fame be struck with horror dumb That to our Foes the News may never come Let our dishonour be to Gath unknown Proclaim it not in Askelon Lest if their Daughters come to know Our loss and unexampled Woe They in their Feasts and Dances should express Insultingly their Joy at our distress And impiously ' devout should raise Their carv'd and graven Gods in wicked Songs of Pâ— Ye Hills of Gilbâ—a the fatal place O'er which the Foe did Israel chase Ye luckless Hills Spred with your Monarch's Ignominious Spoils May you the marks of Heav'n's displeasure bear Be you no more the Farmer 's care Let no kind Cloud hereafter pour On your parch'd Heads one fruitful Shower May the relentless harden'd Sky No Rain by Day or Dew by Night supply To ease your Thirâ—t and gaping clefts cement With Fire be blasted and with Thunder rent Let not a blade of Grass or Corn Nor one green Tree your Heads adorn By Heav'n accurst to future Ages stand Uncultivated Heaps of barren Sand. For vanquish'd Israel o'er these Mountains fled There with ignoble Rout the Fields were spred There lay our Weapons mingled with our Dead There scatter'd Bucklers lay Which routed Israel cast away There may the Shield of Saul be found Midst common Bucklers on the ground Thy Body too unhappy Monarch there Lys mixt with vulgar Corps expos'd in open Air. O Saul O Ionathan ye mighty Dead You ne'er before in Battel fled The Arrows from the Son's unerring Bow Have pierc'd ten thousand valiant Warriours thro' The Father 's unresisted Sword Like raging Fires around devour'd By no Opposer e'er withstood The crimson Conq'ror reek'd in Hostile Blood Till now you ever us'd to come Laden with Spoils and Trophys home Your Chariots thro' the confluent gazing Throng Us'd in slow State to roll along While crowds of Captive Princes chain'd Wiping their Brows with dust and sweat distain'd Did panting in the Pomp appear Part of the long Procession of the Rear Our Daughters both in Mind and Habit gay With Songs and Dances on the way Met and increast the Triumph of the Day Thus Vict'ry us'd to crown The mighty Father and the valiant Son Now vanquish'd o'er the Hills they fly From the pursuing Enemy Surprising change of Providence Those who resistless were can now make no defence So courteous were the Royal Pair So condescending mild and Debonnair That they became to all the Nation dear No more their kindness fail'd to move The People's universal Love Than their fam'd Courage did their Neighbours fear They liv'd in strongest bonds of Love combin'd And as they liv'd so they together dy'd So close was their Affection joyn'd That Death it self could not the knot divide For tho' they fell opprest with Pagan Power Their Love still triumph'd o'er the Conquerour And yet their Clemency did ne'er abate Their Courage and their Martial heat For they as swift as hungry Eagles flew Or to attack or to pursue And when they were in fight engag'd Like Lyons when provok'd they thro' the Battel rag'd O Daughters of Ierusalem express A Sorrow worthy of our vast distress Unite your Groans and mournful Crys Unite your Tears and Agonys Apply your selves to weeping day and night Raptures of Grief be your Delight Thro' every Street lamenting go Strains of unruly Anguish show And howling Tempâ—sts raise of wild despairing Woe too exquisite Affliction can't be shown Since Saul is fal'n from his Imperial Throne Saul lys upon the Mountains dead Who with abundance Israel fed Who gave you Garments glorious to behold Scarlet adorn'd with Needle-work and Gold Who hung rich Bracelets on your Arms And with bright Gems increas'd your native Charms Whose Arms enrich'd your Towns with precious Spoil And fill'd with Foreign Wealth Iudea's happy Soil How did the mighty Prince and all His valiant Chiefs in Battel fall How are the Hills with Slaughter spred How are our Captive Sons in Triumph led Captives who drag th' inglorious Chain Captives less happy than the Slain Horror and Shame hark how the shouting Foe How proud Philistia mocks our Woe Thro' all their Streets what Acclamations ring Hear how their Daughters sing See how they dance While their victorious Troops with Israel's Spoils advance O Israel where is now thy warlike Fame How will thy once much dreaded Name By Foes so often vanquish'd be despis'd By all the Nations of th' Uncircumcis'd Oh Ionathan how dear wert thou to me How dear must be thy Memory No Time can from my Breast remove Thy Image or thy wondrous love A Love like which we none recorded find A Love surpassing that of Womankind Their Love was ne'er so tender pure and strong And never lasted in excess so long What gen'rous Friendship hast thou shown What dreadful Dangers undergone To raise thy Rival to thy Father's Throne Kindest of Brothers my afflicted Soul Does thy unhappy Fall condole Thy suddain thy disast'rous Fate Does Agonies of Grief create As in a Storm my rolling Bowels move With strong Convulsive Throws of sad distracted Love I would the highest marks express Of uncontroul'd unmerciful distress For if my Grief does not outrageous grow 'T is unbecoming my unmeasur'd Woe Nothing 's enough that 's less than all that Love can show THE Second PSALM PARAPHRAS'D WHat means this mighty Uproar whence arise This great Commotion these tumultuous Crys What has alarm'd the Nations what offence Does all the jealous States around incense What does the Heathen Fire with so much Rage What Iacob's Sons in such Designs engage As they can ne'er effect or if they do They 'll miss the end they furiously pursue Infatuated Men you 'll sure repent Your rash Attempts too late the sad event Will show your Projects vain your Malice impotent Confed'rate Princes wicked Friendship make And in their Anger desp'rate Councels take Against their great Creator and his Son And hope the Lord 's Anointed to dethrone Let us say they assert
our Liberty And keep our Kingdoms from Oppression free We 'll ne'er agree to vindicate the Cause Of this new King nor e'er obey his Laws Th' Almighty sets his Fav'rite up in vain We 'll ne'er consent to this Usurper's Reign We his proud Yoke will never tamely bear But will his servile Chains asunder tear But the great God who sits enthron'd on high Above the Starry Convex of the Sky Insultingly will mock their foolish Pride Laugh at their Threats and their vain Plots deride In fiery Indignation he shall pass A dreadful Sentence on this impious Race The marks of high Displeasure he shall show And pour Destruction on th' audacious Foe Thus from his Throne sublime th' Eternal spoke And with his awful Voice the Frame of Nature shook In spite of all the Princes that combine Or to retard or frustrate my design On Sion's Hill my Fav'rite I 'll enthrone And fix upon his Head th' Imperial Crown Submissive States his Empire shall obey And at his Footstool Kings their Scepters lay He shall Tyrannic Cruelty correct And tenderly his Subject's Rights protect He shall assert Divine Religion's Cause Heav'n's sacred Int'rests manage with Applause And rule the World with just and equal Laws To execute his high important Charge My Viceroy I invest with Pow'r at large Vast Pow'r I give him but I give him none But what is mixt with Mercy like my own No other Pow'r but what is understood To be intended for his Subjects good His just and gentle Conduct shall confess He seeks his Glory in their Happiness I to the World will publish thy Decree That raises me to Regal Dignity Thus said the Lord let it this Day be known That thou art my begotten only Son Thy high Descent let all the Nations own Thou art intitul'd by thy Royal Birth To all the Realms and Nations of the Earth Make thy demand and by my Grant divine The Pagan States and Kingdoms shall be thine I 'll subject all the spacious tracks of Land From Pole to Pole to thy supream command Thou shalt of all the Regions be possest From the Sun's rising to the adverse West Only the limits which the World surround Thy Universal Monarchy shall bound Arm'd with a Rod of Iron thou shalt reign O'er proud Oppressors and their Rage restrain Thou shalt in pieces dash like Potters Clay Thy stubborn Foes who insolently say We 'll ne'er his Title own nor his Commands obey Ye foolish Kings and Potentates be wise And be instructed where your Safety lies The Son of God with Acclamations meet And prostrate lye adoring at his feet Bow down your Necks to take his gentle Yoke Lest your neglect his Fury should provoke If you refuse this Monarch to obey Be sure you 'll perish in your wicked way For if his Wrath so dreadful does appear When scarcely kindled what have you to fear Who by your desp'rate Provocations raise The Spark to Flames and make his Fury blaze No longer your Subjection then delay The safe and happy Men are only they Who as their Refuge and secure Defence Repose in him their Trust and Confidence THE CIVth PSALM PARAPHRAS'D MY grateful Soul th' Almighty's Name adore Great is his Being great his Works of Pow'r Immortal Honours Majesty Renown And Dignity Divine his Temples crown His Robe of State is wrought with Light reâ—in'd An endless Train of Lustre flows behind His Throne 's of massy burnish'd Glory made With Heav'nly Pearl and Gems Divine inlaid Whence Floods of Joy and Seas of Splendour flow On all th' Angelic gazing Throng below Who drink in Pleasures by their ravish'd Sight Delug'd in vast ineffable Delight He as a Tent the Heav'n's expansion reers And as a Curtain stretches out the Sphears He makes the Mists his Pillars to sustain His airy Rooms and lays their Beams in Rain The Clouds th' Almighty's rolling Chariots bear Their Lord thro' all the spacious Fields of Air. He harnasses the manag ' Winds and flys On their swift Wings to visit all the Skys The various Meteors of the Air above Wait his Commands and by his Order move Tempests and Windy Vapours rais'd on high To do his Will like Menial Servants fly Lightnings and all his wildest Works of Fire His Ministers to serve their Lord conspire These sensless Creatures such Obedience shew To their great Master as his Angels do To him her Father Nature owes her Birth He laid the deep Foundations of the Earth He hung the pondrous heap in fluid Air And made its weight it s own Supporter there Then he the Waters o'er its Bosom roll'd And liquid Garments did the Earth enfold The Rocks and Hills conceal'd in Billows stood And o'er the Mountains tops the Deluge rais'd its Flood God's great Command chastis'd the Water's Pride He bad the Flood call down its tow'ring Tide And strait the ebbing Deluge did subside Th' Almighty form'd a vast capacious Deep Where he his Watry Regiments might keep The waves file off and thither make their way To form the mighty Body of the Sea Where they encamp and in their Stations stand Entrench'd in Works of Rock and Lines of Sand. Yet some Deserters still the Sea forsake And from their Posts by stealth Excursions make The Sun to some lets down his helping Ray They climb the golden Line and thus convey Themselves in Vapours high amidst the Air And to the Hills aspiring heads repair Others by secret Channels from the Deep Pass undiscern'd and up the Mountains creep Whence gushing out in Springs they downward flow And thro' the flowry Vales back to the Ocean go While God in Prison holds the mighty Deep And does in rocky Chains the raging Monster keep That it may ne'er surmount the ambient Shore And with its Flood may drown the Earth no more He to refresh and cloath the Meads with Grass Bids all his Rivers thro' the Vallys pass Kindly their course th' indented Banks restrain Kindly the Hills retard their gliding train For thus the ling'ring Streams at leisure flow And greater Riches on the Fields bestow Beasts tame and salvage to the River's brink Come from the Fields and Wilderness to drink Thither the feather'd Singers of the Air To quench their thirst and prune their Wings repair Then midst the Willows that adorn the Flood Or on the Branches in some neighb'ring Wood The painted Heralds in melodious Lays Proclaim their gracious Benefactor 's Praise He from his high Aerial Chambers where Th' Almighty Chymist does his Works prepare Digests his Lightnings and distills his Rain Pours down his Waters on the thirsty Plain He sends refreshing Showers to cheer the Hills And with his Bounty all the Vally fills The Earth made fruitful with his Heav'nly drops With a rich Harvest crowns the Farmer 's Hopes He does the Fields his open Table spred Where all the Beasts with grassy Meat are fed He Plants for Food and Physic does produce Thro' all the Earth for Man his Viceroys use He pours from