these can be assign'd but me Up then and with undaunted courage go I will be always with thy mouth if so Thy Tongue shall like a ready Writers Pen Such reasons give all shall convince all men This burden Lord 's to heavy for my back And thou hast many stronger some one take This service to perform let me still keep The tender Flocks of Jethro Kids and Sheep As heretofore Look on this bush ungrateful fearful man Leprosie Serpent Blood then if you can Deny obedience to his just commands Who promiseth to guide thy mouth and hands It is thy Wisdom not thy Lisping Tongue I choose for this transaction one is sprung From the same stock with thee who shall declare With art Divine what my intentions are And how I think to order this affair He 's on the road and big with expectation Since I inform'd him how the Hebrew nation Should by my pow'r his word thy hand be freed And bloody measures broke that were decreed By Egypt for their ruin Give this in charge when he doth first appear That when to Goshen he doth back repair He may nor art nor words nor labour spare Both of you shall be strengthned from above To show that I afflicted Israel Love And shall have joynt commission he thy mouth Shall be and thou to him as God of truth This Rod's the instrument that you must use This Vengeance working Rod on those refuse T' ' bey my will that mighty Monarch shall By this dry Wand despised be and fall I say be gone ' Heav'n could not be nor in that Heav'n a Jove ' If Earth could scan the secrets of his Love ' How he contrives deliberates decrees ' The fates of private Men and Monarchies ' His wisdom is a Sea that hath no bottom ' His providence a depth that none can fathom ' His Wills a Law none ought to disobey ' In Heav'n and Earth he doth the Sceptre sway 'To Friends he is kind to enemies austere ' Yet Justice holds the ballance here and there ' He wants not agents to effect his will ' That Fishermen or Shepherds can fulfil ' If men were wanting Water Earth dry Rods ' Can force the stubborn to obey the Gods This new post doth not Moses elevate Above the thoughts of his late low estate Tho he be chose Heav'ns Envoy he doth go First unto Midian that his friends may know Their Shepherd must on Embassy be sent To Eyypt whence he came in Banishment His Kindreds burthen to condole and try Once more his Fate for their delivery The news when Jethro heard he sighing said My dearest Son I wish my feeble aid Could any way assist you in this task It should be giv'n before you could it ask My Prayers and Tears shall be that God direct And grant the success you from him expect ' The enemies of God and of his Laws ' Submit for secret not for open cause ' Jethro is willing with his Son to part ' The staff of 's Life the joy of 's Daughters heart ' Tho for that loss he afterward may smart Night had no sooner shut the Shepherds eye Than he a splendid Vision did espy Of form divine who thus itself exprest Sleep on my Friend sleep on and take thy rest Then up and haste to Egypt for its strife ' Gainst thee is ended with that Monarch's life ' When Angels guard and give the opiate ' Men rest secure nothing can hurt or hate Before next light gilded that Hemisphere The Shepherd wak'd said Zipporah my Dear I 've for thy love and for our livelihoods In Desarts liv'd in Mountains and in Woods These forty years where my integrity Was known to all my greatest love to thee Now Heav'n resolv'd to alter my condition Sends me to Egypt Dear let no suspicion Of fraud or hatred harbour in thy breast My God commands and his commands are best I 'm wholly yours said she Heav'ns will be done Tho Nature bids me grieve when left alone You know that Man and Wife are flesh and bone Life of my Soul nothing can us two part Thou know'st I ever had a tender heart Since first I saw and helpt thee at the Well True true my Dear I am content to dwell Where you think fit What must we take from hence Only the Boys the rest to Providence I will commit except this holy Wand Which I must always carry in my hand And wonders work with it in that curst land ' None but the Lover knows the grief to part ' With that is lov'd since both have but one heart Heav'n calls again and bids him when he sees The faithless King make fair discoveries Of his Intentions and the fearful end He for his stubbornness will on him send I know he 'll raging say think'st that I will Dismiss my Slaves thy humour to fulfill No they have sworn to be mine for ever In this opinion I will persevere To this reply when they came first 't is true They said their Lives and Fortunes were your due Ingratitude they scorn'd whilst you was kind Fresh obligations them anew did bind And they 're the same tho you have chang'd your mind But now their God commands who hath a right O'er them and you whose wisdom valour might None can oppose when he 's resolv'd to fight He saith that Israel was his first-born Son And must tho now your Slave in haste be gone If thou persist in disobedience Thy first born kill'd he 'll force his people hence ' Good Kings are Heav'ns beloved mankinds joy ' Whilst they their time and counsels do employ 'To rule with justice clemency and love ' In imitation of their King above ' Whilst they resolve their conduct to confine ' Within the limits of the Law Divine ' Which give them ease and firmly fix their Crown ' Procure mens favour bring new blessings down ' Upon their heads and hearts but when their will ' Is restless as the Sea that ne'er lyes still ' But beats th' adjacent Rocks and plows the Sands ' Threat'ning a Deluge o're the fertile Lands ' Smiting the great and blasting those below ' With subtle Lightning slighting friend and foe ' Such Jehu's curst are their own overthrow Away he goes not fearing ill success Since potent Heav'n espous'd his business And travels hard till mid-day's scorching Sun Be at on his head which forc'd him to sit down Under a shady Beech where angry J'ove Appear'd again not as before in love His aspect threat'ned death which had ensu'd If Zipp'rah had not softned the cloud Who run in haste unto her younger Son And cut his fore-skin with a flinty Stone Then took the same and threw 't at Moses feet With unbecoming words she did him greet Is your just God with human blood aton'd Must Kings for his displeasure be dethron'd Must Women to their darlings Tygers prove T' oblige a cruel God Is this his Love Hard hearted man hard hearted as thy God I cannot will
Israel's TROUBLES AND TRIUMPH OR The History of their dangers in and deliverance out of EGYPT AS It is recorded by Moses in Exod. AND Turned into English Verse By GEORGE LESLY M. A. Minister of Olney Bucks Discite Justitiam Moniti Virg. Hearken to a Verser who may chance Rhime thee to good and make a bait of pleasure Herbert LONDON Printed for the Author and sold by Nicholas Woolf at his House in Star Court Cheapside 1699. THE PRINTER TO THE READER THE Author makes no apology for what he hath here offered being fully perswaded that he hath injured no man but in the room of that or a prolix Preface he desires me to inform you if you be strangers in our Israel and know not that since the lowest of the people daily invade the Ministerial Office he thinks that for harmless humour and innocent diversion an ancient Preacher may turn Religious Poet because Rhimes as he saith were of old the common Theology and why they may not be subservient to it yet he knoweth not However taking it for granted he was resolved with the Great Apostle to become all things to all men c. If any true Son of the Muses seem to be dissatisfied he saith to such as Gideon did to the angry Ephramites what have I done now in comparison of you Is not the gleaning of the Grapes of Ephraim better than the Vintage of Abiezer c. Farewel ERRATA PAge 5. line 19. r. them p. 13. l. 13. r. Isacides p. 18. l. 20. r. Sire l. 30. r. your p. 19. l. 24. r. your p. 20. l. 23. r. armies p. 21. l. 10. r. Sire p. 26. l. 20. leave out A grant p. 36. l. 7. r. hear p. 38. l. 7. r. those p. 39. l. 3. r. yet p. 44. l. 1. r. Sun p. 51. l. 10. r. Remote p. 55. l. 12. r. were p. 36. l. 31. r. deluding p. 61. l. 3. add great l. 6. dele their p. 63. l. 17. r. God p. 69. l. 8. r. ro p. 72. l. 19. r. descrie p. 75. l. 25. r. dear p. 78. l. 7. r. May l. 26. add himself p. 81. l. 7. r. never p. 85. l. 28. r. not p. 87. l. 11. add then These and what others are not taken notice of the Reader is requested to do it as he reads Israel's TROUBLES AND TRIUMPH I Sing th' Almighty's Friend and Israel's guide His birth and rescue from th' impetuous tide Of rapid Nile I sing his Mother's care His Royal Nurse and how Heav'n's mercies are Like himself boundless his own acts I sing Whose growing greatness griev'd the grumbling King And all his Subjects who combin'd to have His guiltless blood how he was forc'd to leave A Princely Court where ev'ry thing lookt brave His wand'rings and his happy Residence At last with Jethro Midian Priest and Prince His Nuptials Trade and of the great content He had in hours on Mathematicks spent Astronomy was pleasant but Gods Law Delighted most since by its light he saw His change of State his en'mies pride and fall He saw himself made Heav'n's General The flaming Bush and Voice confirmed all This Province Lord a greater light requires Than can be kindled by Promethean fires The way 's unbeaten slipp'ry dark and strange Conduct thy Servant that he may not range Too high 'bove what is written nor too low It 's truth not fancy I desire to show Truth to convince the world of Pharaoh's sins And punishments with thee my Muse begins Joseph the great the good the just and wise Remov'd from Memphis unto Paradice And Pharaoh to that fair Elizian grove To perfect and perpetuate their love Left Israel blest with all the happiness Their King and Brother could by deeds express Which they in peace profound for many years Possest ne're harb'ring jealousies nor fears Admir'd caress'd and lov'd by ev'ry one From the rude Cottage to the Royal Throne But ah where time is nam'd there 's nothing sure All have Convulsions Cramps or Calenture Earth hath strong Palsies that do shake its frame Man accidents ten thousand without name Sent from the Throne Celestial or Abyss To shew how vain a thing is humane bliss Their day's o'recast and stormy Clouds appear When a strange heir sat in th' Imperial Chair Whose haughty humour taught him to despise His Predecessors Laws tho Just and Wise Our Gods themselves count it a saucy thing Said he in Vassals to advise their King A Monarchy that 's absolute I 'll have I 'll change the name of Subject into Slave To reign one day is much more glorious Without controul than ages curbed thus With endless Counsels I will â—…e alone By borrow'd light the former Pharaohs shone I must Eclipse that Turning to his Court You see said he the great the oft resort Of all sorts daily to our Goshenites This chills my blood this checks my active sp'rits Ah me opprest My thoughts I can't relate My apprehensions of our falling state Are black and dismal my night dreams foretel Our overthrow by them that with us dwell And here he stopt tho more he would have said Leaving the rest to tears which crav'd their aid Tears that like torrents from his eyes distill'd All the beholders with amazement fill'd Whose sympathizing eyes and hearts condole The tort'ring torments of his troubled soul With pickled sighs which o're they bow and say Dread Soveraign do you propose the way Your sorrow 's ours if that be its true rise The common Foe at once well sacrifice Which is soon done if we right measures take That 's vent'ring all for King and Country's sake This brisk resolve reviv'd the drooping King So as the aged Winter 's by the Spring His center'd blood resum'd its circ'lar course The briny streams are stopped at their source All parts are changed clarify'd his eyes His tongue 's unty'd with which he magnifies Their Love and Courage Daring souls said he This undertaking calls for secrecy Since they we must attack most subtile be If it takes air they 'll quickly trace the scent Destroy our Persons and our Government Once more invade then we must bow the head As heretofore with pray'rs and tears for bread Or if a Foreign Foe should us infest They 'd joyn with them and prove worse than the rest They know our Strength they know our Houses well They know our Closets where we Money tell Which they would rifle and from us be gone ' Gainst this I know no Remedy but one They live in wealth and ease as if their Land Was not by Grace but by a conqu'ring hand This irritates their wild and wealthy Souls To publish Israel wise and us kind Fools I must an Edict frame that may suppress Their pride and pow'r and all our wrongs redress Which must run thus Our Countries open'lye To ev'ry one that hath a wishing eye On us such may make Inroads when they please Destroy our State our Fruits disturb our ease And stop our Traffick both by Land
Past 'twixt our Lovers as they crost the plains ' Are thoughts too high for any but such Souls ' As Venus softens with Circean Bowls He comes salutes and soon acquaintance had With Raguel Jethro and Zipporah who said Blushing Dear Sir I love this stranger well Perswade him if you can with us to dwell Heav'n rules the Stars the Stars our Actions guide All which portend that I shall be his Bride And if my judgment fail not you will see Him prop and glory of our Family He hath in 's Face such Beams of Majesty Your pardon Sir with your consent I crave To be his wife for he a wife will have How know'st thou that fond Girl Sir at the Well I heard him sing unseen and he sung well Most of the Subject mystical but this He ended with the praise of Marriage bliss Be not too forward he may change his mind And after all prove peevish or unkind 'T is rare a constant Courtier to find Some time is spent in viewing of the place The Herds the Flocks the Buildings and the Grass The manner of their Living and their Laws Sacred and Civil their sweet Springs and Spaws The stranger shew'd his great content in all And wish'd himself the woolly General Of Jethro's bleating arms and that he Might be a Servant in that Family ' Had you seen Venus in her Robes Divine ' Or Helen in Corinthian bravery shine ' Young Paris's love but now the sport of fame ' The Greeks disturber and the Trojans shame ' Or Rachel fair when in her nat'ral dress ' Whom at the Well the Patriarch did caress ' Then at our Zipporah's Beauty you might guess When she appear'd in splendour like love's Queen All on a flame and yet would not be seen To be her Martyr Jethro must make way Who to our Gallant smiling thus did say Sir doth our Country please Can any thing Within my reach to you contentment bring Speak freely all is yours my joy my life My eldest Daughter you may have to wife Dear Zipp what say'st thou to this choice of mine My dearest Sir said she this great design May be above my Merits yet since yours I do submit O! may the higher Pow'rs Direct us all ' When brave Leander boldly ventured ' O're Hell espont by fatal Torches led ' When mighty Jove came down in Golden Show'rs ' Nor Hero â—s charms nor Danae's had more Pow'rs ' Than Zipp'ra's eyes and Jethro's well-tun'd breath ' The stranger blushing said I 'm yours to death Joynt promise giv'n and rites all consummate Our Lovers now are in a fearless state Bashful and coy no more their Bed is one Till pregnant Zipporah had a hopeful Son Whom Moses Gershom nam'd himself to mind Of th' entertainment he on earth should find A stranger there he was tho lov'd and known Tho Jethro's House and Flocks were as his own Where he abode until the time was come That Pharaoh from the fates must have his doom Tho Kings be Gods they cannot scape the Tomb. Whose unlamented fall the Hebrews cheer'd Who said by our new King we may be heard But all their hopes and wishes proved vain Their Tasks are doubled and the Lab'rers slain This made them sigh this made them pray and cry To Heav'n that he no longer would deny His promis'd aid who call'd his word to mind And said I must to Israel be kind For Abra'm Isaac and for Jacob's sake Their Fetters I 'll knock off their Chains I 'll break Now I think fit to ease and set them free From their heart-breaking sorrows slavery ' 'T was I that suffer'd Joseph to be sold ' Imprison'd and releas'd 't was I enroll'd ' His name with Egypt's Worthies it was I ' That gave the wisdom him did dignify ' I moved Pharaoh to send for the Father ' I taught the Son all Egypt's Corn to gather ' Before the Famine I gave Israel grace ' With Egyt's King and chose for him a place ' Goshen the fair where he in wealth did flourish ' 'T was I his num'rous Family did nourish ' When dead 't was I his Bones to Canaan sent 'A pledge of 's Children's future settlement ' It is for reasons to me only known ' They have not yet enjoy'd it tho their own ' But now they shall the best of Lands inherit ' Because I love them not because they Merit The fodder spent and Midian Pastures bare Religious Moses doubleth his care To find out Grass at last his Flocks he brings Unto the back of Horeb where the Springs Are limpid salutiferous and where The Pastures good and Sky is always clear And gladsome Spirits have fam'd dwellings there Here he with patience waits th' accomplishment Of Heav'ns promise and what else Heav'n meant The Angel-God to hasten his design Appearâ—d as man but cloath'd with Light Divine A bush surrounding with Celest'al fire This sight madâ— Moses discompos'd retire The flame was hot and fierce yet frighted more Because the Shrubs stood verdant as before With pensive thoughts mov'd he lookt backt to see The end of this yet unknown mystery Taking it for a sign of victory O're some Great Prince Heaven sees and calls him twice Moses Moses be curious take advice Look to thy Feet and make no rash advance This place is holy sign of importance I 'm no deceitful nor fictitious Jove Tho in this bush I am the God of Love He in whom Abra'm trusted Isaac fear'd And for whose honour Jacob Altars rear'd That seen this heard the trembling Shepherd bows Just sentiments of both in 's face he shews With vailed Eyes not daring more to see Sucâ— wâ—ful beams of splendid majesty As had the Author of this prodigy Whilst he in this dejected posture lay His sences lockt not knowing what to say A sweet refreshing soft melodious voice Revives his Spirits and bids him rejoyce Say'ng the promis'd time is fully come Of Israel's freedom and th' Egyptian's doom It was not my forgetfulness that did Protract their Bondage my eyes were not hid Nor bowels hard my Providence requir'd That they should first with Egypt's fare be tir'd And worship too I must now for my ancient promise sake For which Truth Justice Goodness are at stake Use such sure methods as shall bring them back All their opposers shall before them fall That brutish Nation shall no more enthral The Off-spring of my Friends I 've heard their cry And am come down their wrongs to rectify Their Sorrows to remove their State to change From making Bricks to cultivate a Grange That 's large and fruitful whose Inhabitants Their cup now full shall be expos'd to wants My Peoples plaints I cannot longer bear Without redress revenge on them that tear Their Hearts with Tongues and Hands it is my will Go thou to Pharaoh and bid him fulfil The Lords commands and send his Friends away Doubt not th' event I Egypt's Sceptre sway To this the bashful Shepherd answer made Great God thou
are To drown their Infants was our greatest care But Hebrew Women stronger much than ours Have painless labour they say higher pow'rs Assist them and if so their God is kind 'T was both against our interest and mind Our search of late can find no birth of theirs Nor nothing like it only them at pray'rs Yet Pharaoh swore by Sacred Moon and Sun That he would finish what he had begun In spite of all said he their Blood I 'll have Although in Blood I wallow to my Grave He frown'd Heav'n smil'd and said I 'll interpose I 'll show my pow'r love will in saving those Whom I long since for my own Servants chose I am resolv'd out of that hated race To raise up one shall dare him to his face And this he knows tho I have made him blind To all the Scourges are for him design'd His close Cabals my Wisdom shall defeat Whom I destroy I first infatuate This spoke 't was done for Amram did espouse A Wife of his own Tribe of his own House Who had by him before this Edict came A hopeful pair Aaron and Miriam Her third Conception which she did bring forth A Son of Beauty was who promis'd worth Whom she afraid hid in a secret place And there him suckled for full three months space At last true Faith and Fear in her did strive This bid her drown and that keep him alive Faith urg'd that she a Levite's Daughter holy Should not be guilty of so great a folly So great a crime as to destroy her Son But choose to dye say'ng Heav'ns will be done To which her tim'rous Tongue made this reply The King's command is urgent then if I Be apprehended in this Fact all all The Hebrew Nation for my fault will fall No I will trust the Babe with providence When I have used means for his defence Such are the care ev'n of omnipotence She said and reach'd her hand unto the Flags Of which a Boat-like Cradle lin'd with Rags She made and cork'd with slimy Pitch all o're Lest it should sink if driven from the shore And plac'd him there as if he went to sleep Committing both to Heav'n and to the deep ' Hid Rocks roughs Seas fierce Pyrates Shelves and Sand ' The Merchants fear and yet come safe to Land Now Horrour-struck in haste she Miriam calls Come come my dear see'st thou not yonder walls Haste haste thee thither if thou lov'st thy Mother And see the last of my dear Boy thy Brother Stand at a distance grieve not shed no tear Look pleasantly on all then nothing fear 'T is easier to give Counsel than to take ' The burthen's light that 's on another's back She had not long been a Spectator there When Pharaoh's Daughter thro the Almighty's care Was brought 'bout Sun-set to the calmed Creek Where th' Infant lay his life or death to seek Who saw the Ark and to her Ladies said Draw up this toy if any thing be laid In it I 'll see when opend she espy'd A lovely Child who hung the Lip and cry'd O Girl said she this is a glor'ous thing I read in 's face the Fortunes of a King Come come my dear I 'm ravish'd with thy charms Come come and grasp a Princess in thy arms I have no Heir Dear thou shalt be my Son Dear unto me as if my Flesh and Bone The Sister buoy'd with this Spring-Tyde of joy This unexpected rescue of the Boy With much assurance to the Princess bows Say'ng Great Madam in that Neighbouring house There is a Woman who is neat and tall Of fair complexion the Graces all Sit on her brow in purest red and white Perhaps her beauty may the Prince delight She loves your Grace altho an Israelite Egyptian or Hebrew said the Queen I like the character when I have seen The person her I for his Nurse will â—ake And shew her kindness for my Darlings sake Call her She came in haste the Queen of Love Sent her half drest and left the rest to J'ove Who plac'd such Graces on her humble heart As made her much more beautiful than Art Could ever boast her mein his words her gate Bespoke her Mistress of a better state And now it 's come prosperity ne're comes late Whom when the Princess saw she lift her eyes And hands aloft blessing her Deities For this unlook'd for kindness then her hand She grip'd and said I thought that Goshen-Land Had not been blest with Beauties such as you To which she blushing answer'd my brow Great Madam once was fair alas but now It 's tann'd with grief Such Sun-burn'd faces I am pleas'd to see Reply'd the Princess take this Boy from me I did a Nurse for him intend before Whom he despis'd try you my Knave once more Her Snow-like Breasts expos'd their veins display By which tho young he knows the milky way Then smiling capers snatches sighs and draws The Pipes that drain the Nectar from those Spaws This Infant toil the Queen beholds with joy And smiling said your face hath caught the Boy Keep him fair Nurse he 's yours and mine I 'll pay This heard to Heav'n she silently did say Thou great Protector of th' Istiades For this high favour I will ever bless Thy Sacred name and daily pay the vow I made to thee when my Estate was low Then to the Princess she made this reply Your Goddess-like Commands I will obey My life and all that 's dear I 'll sacrifice For you and yours and for this Heav'n giv'n prize ' If Providence and beauty do unite ' They make th' Egyptian love the Isra'lite ' When winged Chymists made and gave the charm ' Nor Nile nor Egypt could the Infant harm ' The Mothers fear by Heav'n was made the key 'T' unlock the Providential mystery Raptures of joy tho violent and strong Admit allays when mixed with the throng Of future events and as quickly gone As was her bliss when she receivâ—…â—er Son Not from a Fishes womb dead and decay'd But from the hand half Egypt's Scepter sway'd To whom he must return when he is wean'd Such Princely Nurs'ries cannot be detain'd Not to make Bricks but for a Diadem 'T was to that end the Princess gave the name By Heav'ns appointment Moses as if she From Abraham had drawn her Pedigree A fatal blow to Pharaoh's Tyranny Wean'd and return'd his lively looks and sport Are now the common subject of the Court None like young Moses none hath equal share With him in Pharaoh's love in 's Daughters care Mars and Apollo his chief Tutors are To teach him Wisdom and the art of War Wisdom to rule and Conduct to defend His Subjects well from ill his helpless friend Now he 's thought fit to sit above the best Of Egypt's Peers and yet is not at rest The reason of his name when call'd to mind He knew it Hebrew this his Soul inclin'd To do some great thing for his Country's ease Yet loth his
when Heavens bids him go Distrust no more your God doth undertake This wondrous task and for that end will make Thy pow'rful signs bring down great Pharaoh â—s heart When Aaron as thy mouth shall act his part Exceed not thy commission say no more To him than I to thee have said before This bid him freely unto Pharaoh say Heav'ns chosen Servants must not longer stay In his Dominions their increased woe Is at an end they must to Canaan go I know his rage his fury he 'll deny Thy God or thee in this to gratify From 's hard'ned heart my spirit I 'll remove His Conscience him shall no more warnings give Of my displeasure nor his future state The Devil shall him deceive till it 's too late I 'll blind his judgment so that he shall be The chiefest actor in 's own tragedy ' Like Fish unwary plung'd into the Net ' The more they strike the faster in they get ' So he while all my wonders I have spent ' Not dreaming that his own destructionâ—s meant Shall boldly with enchanting Witch-crafts dare ' The signs by thee and Aaron acted are I know he 'll strive my Outguards to defeat Not knowing that I have more wonders yet At my command whole Armies that can dye His waters Crimson darken his bright Sky My word shall bring poor vermin from their Cells Will him despise and all his Magi's spells The winged Troops I 've ready at my beck His ruin Israel's rescue to effect That tawny King and all his swarthy crew Shall that with vengeance learn they never knew I will the Winds let loose and Seas adjure With him to make the fatal overture For bringing Israel out by my great pow'r I know when you before him next appear Your persons he will scorn yet say draw near You who pretend a message from above Must it confirm by Miracles or prove Your selves Impostors Rebels to my Crown Most willingly say you and then throw down This pregnant Rod which turning to a Snake Shall twist unfold and crawl and strive to take The Royal Scepter out of Pharaoh's hand At which he much affrighted mute will stand Nodding and sighing for his Sophi-band They come He said what think my Priests of this Can you such Serpents turn and make them hiss Alas great Sir said they this fellow's art Was learn'd from us before he did depart Thy Predecessors Court and now he brings Owls into Athens we know better things Look on our Rods Great Sir which we command By all our Deities to turn from our hand As that of his to many Serpents great And when all 's done both his and ours are cheat Legerdemain can make false things appear To th' ignorant as if they real were But here is more said he his swalloweth yours This if a trick I 'm sure 's beyond your pow'rs Well Moses this is fine but yet I must See more and greater things before I trust That you commission have from any God To rob me of my Subjects Aaron's Rod And all your charms for this will prove in vain Once more be gone and from these slights abstain This will not ease but more increase your pain Then turn'd and frown'd and said disdainfully I 'm King of Egypt I your God defie I scorn to think of a superiour Who can make Gods I 'll hear of him no more ' This heard in haste the flaming Seraphs came 'To pay their homage Cherubs did the same ' Say'ng Holy Holy Holy Lord and true ' How long have we blest Spirits honour'd you ' Both night and day not daring once to pry ' Into the secrets of such Majesty ' Yet in our tarvels at your beck we hear ' Proud Mortals talk as they your Rivals were ' Your patience we 've experienc'd in our selves ' Whom you confirm'd in grace but that such elves ' As they should sharers of this goodness be ' Is unto us next to a prodigy ' Since nobler beings for one single fault ' When they attempt your honour to assault ' Receiv'd a present Mittimus to go ' From bliss eternal to eternal woe ' Have you so long domesticks been to me ' And count one single Act a prodigy ' Look back on former ages there you 'll find ' Greater and more done by me of that kind ' My mercy's great and cannot be confin'd ' When all the Sons of men like Pharaoh spoke ' Reproachfully of me and did provoke ' My Justice then I took a fixed time 'To vindicate my self correct that crime ' And so I will do now Take speedy wing To Moses saying you a message bring From me It 's best to see him in the night That he may be prepar'd when it is light To wait on vexed Pharaoh at the River Whose heart is hard and faithless yet as ever And in that state resolves to persevere Tell him from me that when the Monarch views Himself and Aaron coming with fresh news That sight will so exasperate his wrath He 'll threaten both of them with present death Command him not to fear but take his Rod And say once more to him the Hebrews God Scorns his repulses in the business Of Isra'l's going to the Wilderness At his command Shall vile Earthworms deny Their maker and refuse to gratify His just demands his pow'r will make thee know That thou allegiance unto him do'st owe With full obedience Pray Great Sir believe For God commands that I a sign shall give These limpid streams that he made for thy good By this small Rod shall turned be to blood Blood that to thee may fearful loathsome be And all it s sinn'd inhab'tants stupify Thy Rivers shall with blood and fish so stink That thine tho fainting may not of it drink This said the winged Herauld took his flight Leaving his Friend in bed curtain'd with night Whose sleep was broke by th' awful Messenger Who left his errand and did disappear The message Moses must to Pharaoh bear Confused slumbers did again invade The Prophets temples no sound sleep he had Till lofty Titan Earth's Ethereal eye Nights sables tinged with a Rosie dye Which show'd him that the King was passed by He drest and blusht his thoughts were on the River Th' Almighty speaks whose mercy faileth never Whose Judgments slumber not when he begins To bare his arm and punish crying sins Friend Moses do my will it is not hid From thee I 've by my self and Angel bid That thou in this affair should fearless be As Aaron both direction from me From time to time shall have go hand in hand While you have brought my Sons out of the Land Let Aaron take the Rod and shake it over Their Rivers and their Ponds which waters cover And all their Vessels wherein they keep sweet That which they draw for drink and dressing meat For I will turn those waters into blood Because they 've hitherto my power withstood And slain my subjects for this cruel deed They in
this punishment their sin shall read As blood was their delight so blood shall be The first sad sign of their Catastrophe My Infants tears I cannot longer smother The griefs and groans of each distressed Mother The Fathers loss I do with him condole Infanticide doth vex my very Soul My Justice must this cruelty controul The harmless waters that did suffocate Those half-liv'd babes shall show my pow'r my hate By painted blushes tho this Livery Will not yet work the wish'd delivery Of their surviving parents Go and try Tho he 'll not me by this yet gratify Thus authoriz'd the Brethren haste to Nile Whose early coming made the Monarch smile Stood there before who said come Moses tell Us news from Heav'n are all things settled well In that Utopean Territory say Have you command to take my Slaves away Yes Sir we have as you 're long shall know None can distrust those good credentials show These waters we will in your presence smite Waters that bring to Egypt wealth delight Because in them you drown the Israelite They strike the Flood put on a crimson blush Dy'd by the hand that sav'd the flaming bush Which quickly turn'd to nauseous putrid blood Dazzling the Fishes tho their sight was good They could not see to swim nor gather food But wondring at the change of th' Element Struggle for life until their life was spent The Crocodil's feign'd tears do real grow Because they could not rest above below The waters running bloody thick and slow The Tortoises crawl from their warmer Sand To lay and hatch their Eggs upon the Land All shewing Pharaoh 't was th' Almighty's hand Tho he the prodigy with indignation Beholds and calls the wise men of the Nation Saying have you this new trick never done Are they the Wonder workers they alone Call up your Demons and their aid implore Or else be gone I 'll be Priest-rid no more Most Sacred Sir you know to us your will Is dearer than our Souls we will fulfil All your desires when we clear water find We'â—l do as they have done and ease your mind That Egypt you and all the world may see It is not fit such Fops to gratify Believe your Priests great Sir your doubt is o're Well now my heart is harden'd as before Let us go home My Lord what shall we do Cry'd the Egyptians with a triple bow Our thirst is great the Water none can drink Nor eat the Fish now dead for both do stink We are undone what're the wise men think Remove from Nile deep Wells you may prepare Where Moses nor his Brother Aaron were The subterraneal streams I hope are free From Incantation Jewish Sorcery Try 't is but sev'n days wonder when that 's o'er Nile will be sweet and clear as heretofore When they are weary'd we shall have a Truce With satisfaction for the loss abuse Done to our sacred person to our state Elohim frowning crys obliterate The name of that proud Prince his crimes require Both temp'ral Judgments and eternal Fire Tell him my Justice since he will not mend Designs far greater plagues on him to send His clear'd sweet water shall for smell and taste Be worse than when the blood did it infest For I will call from thence a croaking host That cover shall the Earth with Spawn his Coast Shall be discolour'd no place shall be free His House and Bed will both infested be His Servants who have yet scarce trouble had Shall eat the loathsome slime amongst their bread These Frogs so fast so numerous will come On him and his that there shall be no Room Unhaunted left I say go tell the King Then with your hallowed Rod perform the thing The Brothers go who after honours made Inform'd the King of what Jehovah said He seem'd secure and frown'd they urg'd the case And with a Frog-plague dar'd him to his face Think not said they that menaces will do We have command to act and menace too The Wand stretcht o're the stream a hideous noise Was heard an uncouth croak harsh-sounding voice Of new made Frogs such as the world's eye Ne're yet beheld A loathsom Majesty Sat on their o'er grown bulks and made them dare T' invade their Houses Temples without fear Tho newly rais'd they train'd and valiant were The trembling King and Country strove to oppose The inroads of those unknown warlike Foes But all in vain the more of them they kill The more they grew the more their Houses fill The Palace is not free'd the King must bear The greatest burden while they quarter there Heav'n gave the Billets made the Court of Guard In Pharaoh's House this him from sleep debarr'd Who thought each Frog a dying Child whose cries Pierced his heart as theirs had pierc'd the Skies And brought the Judgment under which he groans Because his cruel heart despis'd their moans Blood-shed and Cruelty make empty Thrones Choak'd with faint fulsome smells he left his bed Shaking his Locks with Frogs-spawn overspread Then sighs and shrieks and weeps and calls who 's there To those lay by but they opprest with fear Made no return At last great Jambres speaks My Lord why are you troubled at such freaks I 'll make such vermin if you say I shall No such delusions do but haste my fall Call Heav'ns Envoys Moses and his Brother There is a God I cannot longer smother My sentiments of this great truth I see That not your art nor love can comfort me You have encreas'd my Sorrows but relief Transcends your pow'r This this augments my grief This said shame paleness seiz'd on ev'ry face To see the insolence impet'ousness Of Titan's spurious brood base watry race But most of all o' the Wizards who begin To shrivel up their Noses Cheeks and Chin Mutter and howl because they cannot awe Pharaoh as formerly He doth withdraw They gawn and yell than Cerberus more loud And so expire Hell gaping for their blood Moses appears to whom the King with tears Said you are not insensible what fears What horrors and what miseries attend The man 's abus'd and cheated by his friend This is my case you know I have withstood At their desire that Heav'n meant for my good Peace tho I drown'd his Servants in the flood Now now alas my Land and Conscience feel The worst of woes think'st not that Heaven may deal More mildly with me since his mercy 's great Beg thou that he remove from my poor state This loathsome fry I will no more contend But willingly his loved people send To offer sacrifice Make this thy care I 'm now convinc'd he is a God of pray'r And thou his Servant This with grave accent He uttered as tho he did repent ' Grand Rebels Murtherers and Thieves when come ' Before the Bench expecting their last doom ' Have mourning on and with a pitious tone ' Complain of their misfortunes every one ' Doth beg for mercy yet if Jur ' or Judge ' Or Clement
King give them from law refuge ' They grow more bold and act as if they had 'A Royal Lease to follow their old Trade ' Or like a Miser who thro age doth feel ' His seared Soul within its house to reel ' Cries O this ill-got Gold What shall I do ' It has destroy'd my Soul and Body too ' Yet for prevention I will Alms-house rear ' Or Chappel build to which men may repair ' As I have ofton done my crimes to hallow ' Straining at Gnats that I might Camels swallow ' If none of these I to the poor will give 'A mighty summ that so my Soul may live ' But if of that disease he doth recover ' O! how he frets and acts his tricks all o'er ' With more industry craft and perjury ' Say'ng now I am no more affraid to die So Pharoah griev'd with Blood and with the Frogs Calls out for Moses flatters lies and coggs As if he 'd not been settled on the lees But rack'd and fin'd by these discoveries And fit with them to offer sacrifice Heav'n condescends and Moses is content With his fair words tho the â—…yâ—w falsely meant ' Thus Nineveh's repentance tho a flash ' Kept from its back the Prophets threatned lash ' And Ahab's humbling did for Judah's King ' Obtain reprieve tho not for his off-spring ' So Phaaroh for a feignâ—d acknowledgement ' Had half the plague remov'd Heav'n on him sent Tho thou hast now left off self-glorying Said Moses thou may'st glory in this thing That God in mercy will grant thy request And send these Vermin from thy land in haste Commanding them henceforth to make abode Within Nile's banks Contend no more with God But pray and wait To morrow thy shalt see This plague remov'd from off thy land and thee If to thy words thou add sincerity Then thou shalt know that none is like the Lord Whose pow'r will quickly ease to thee afford We shall no sooner ask than 't will be done They pray Heaven hears the daring Frogs are gone In shoals to Nile or perisht by the way When God saith go his creatures must not stay As soon as Pharaoh had the news receiv'd He smiling said your friend may be deceiv'd Kings can not by their promises be bound To Jove himself their Counsellours have found Salvo's from his own word than can oppose The faint assaults of every Monarch's foes And I 'll believe them tho I lose my Crown My promise lately made I will not own Nor let them go This the Almighty knew Who call'd the brethren and obedience due To his commands required which they give And he commands that scatter'd Dust may live Turning to Lice both upon man and beast That might make Pharaoh shuck and all the rest This done the Itching Monarch calls aloud To Jannes Jambres all the Sophi brood Can you make Lice said he No cry'd the Wizard To counterfeit this thing we will not hazard Lest fire consume us or a worser thing That after this Heav'n may upon us bring For what 's already done for here we see The print of 's Fingers Pow'r and Majesty Which doth confound us and our Foppery 'A fair confession but Hypocrisy ' Will speak the truth when 't thinks the same a lie ' When a duluding Sp'rit infatuates ' Prince Priest or people to despise the fates ' Their policy is madness and their pride ' Such insolence as God and men deride Thus fared it with Pharaoh his release From Blood Frogs Lice presage a fourth disease The God of Miracles could not behold But must subdue the proud suppress the bold Go Moses then said he by morning light Stand before Pharaoh in his peoples sight And let him know it is Jehovah's will That he with speed his just commands fulfil In letting Israel go that they may pay Their Homage if he make them longer stay Thro his refusal by my next alarm A fearful Host great swarms of Flies shall arm Which will molest him more than Frogs or Lice And all his Servants bid him take advice Say 't is no cheat Goshen shall make thee know That I my people love and to them owe By promise freedom from the noisome beast With every thing the greatest and the least That may infest them Tho they dwell by thee Their Habitations shall no shelter be To thee and thine from stinging stinking Flie. Observe this warning since I speak in love Mercy not Judgment 't is I most approve Consider well the sign will be to morrow And will to thee beginning be of sorrow ' Who can such charms of love and goodness hear ' Unless 't be Pharaoh and not shed a tear ' But ah his Heart his Bowels hard'ned are He will not let Heav'n convenanted go But leave to sacrifice at home if so He gives To which Moses made this reply Who gives but half he doth the whole deny Because that half is giv'n unwillingly Our God commands us to the wilderness And he best knows which is the fittest place If among you we stay then we must offer Such things as you which our God will not suffer If ours it will be said we innovate Your sacred Rites and your Decrees of State Both these may on us sudden ruin being And therefore we must plainly tell the King That since our God hath fix'd the time the place And Sacrifice we must with thee find grace When he perceiv'd excuses were in vain That obstinacy did encrease his pain The next resolve was feign'd obedience To God and Moses thus you may from hence Remove with my free leave if you will swear Not to go far and let me quickly hear That you have begg'd of him to set me free From the proud insects all and loathsome Flie. Moses reply'd If thou do keep thy word At thy desire we will entreat the Lord Who I am sure will order the retreat Of these wingâ—d troops tho noisome fierce and great To morrow they shall every one remove From thee and thine thy gratitude to prove The thing is done yet Pharaoh still denies The people Licence to do sacrifice Nor Blood nor Frogs nor Lice nor Flies can awe The stubborn Prince nor to obedience draw His callous heart that self-deceiving cheat Must be out-witted by a plague as great As any of the former Heav'n once more Calls unto Moses as he did before Saying go to the Palace and declare To him again what my intentions are I am his and the Hebrews God tho he Knows not my name nor his own destiny If he refuse to hearken to this word I will lift up my hand with flaming Sworâ— O'er's Cattle Horses Asses Camels Sheep And Oxen which he doth in Pastures keep Pestilent fogs shall from the earth arise Malignant vapours from the starry Skies These shall their blood corrupt whence putrid hearts Shall scorch with piercing pains and shiv'ring sweats So that the Oxe shall fall beneath the yoke The sacrifice shall die before the stroke
The Horse shall leave his prancing and his head Shall giddy turn run round and fall down dead Asses shall bray and Camels breathe their last And dizzy'd Sheep themselves in Ditches cast The nimble Dogs shall howl forget their meat And teaming Ewes for pain their Breasts will beat All which will his unhappiness compleat He acts as if he knew not what I meant This shall not be a gen'ral punishment His only shall it feel my people's Beasts Must be exempted from these carrion Feasts They shall continue healthy fat as ever Mercy shall be the Skreen by which I 'll sever Their Herds and Flocks from thine that thou mayst see He must be loser that opposeth me All 's done and yet his heart doth harder grow Heav'n must him wonders more and greater shew ' If Souldiers when their Breaches open lye ' Can neither them defend nor fortify ' Do still refuse to make a fair surrender ' On honourable terms despise the tender ' Of Lives and Arms or what else is thought fit 'To grant the next resolve is storming it ' With res'lute bravery so that they may know From Justice what they did to Mercy owe. Thus Heav'n proceeds against him when secure Moses nor Aaron must make overture But suddenly call out a fixt Brigade Of Granadiers who ne'er yet mercy had Where Justice was Commander Water Earth Are both too mild the Tyrants settled wrath To mittigate the fiery element Must act its part in Pharaoh's punishment I 'll give no warning Go and Cinders take Out of the Furnace of which you shall make Large Hand granado's and them upward throw Which kindling there shall ashes turn below Ashes that may breed Boils on Beast and Man Then let his wise men cure them if they can They throw it 's done the dusty ashes fell The Magi cry we ne'er saw such a spell For they like Causticks such Blisters made Such Boils and Blains as Egypt never had The Sorcerers for shame pulled in their Crests Because their Boils grew on their Heads Hands and Breasts By which their Monarch might most plainly see That it was no enchantment but decree For their destruction Yet the blinded man Acted by God persists as he began Not mov'd by Blood Frogs Lice nor Flies nor Murrain The Boils and Scabs do not his pride restrain This angry Heav'n resents and gives command To Moses saying Early rise and stand Before the King to morrow ' nd let him know That Jacobs God will have his Servants go To sacrifice Bid him look to his State I will no more with him Capitulate But one great plague after another send Until his pride with 's life is at an end And Kingdom ruin'd that the world may see There 's none on Earth hath equal pow'r with me The Murrain I will turn to pestilence That he and his may death receive from thence His stubborness admits of no suspence My first plague could his pride have conquered Second or third but all by me forbid Struck gently that his case might warning be To all are haughty stubborn false as he Each Tyrant shall receive this Tyrants doom Either in this or in the world to come Tell him he holds of me his Crown His rise Was to inform the faithful and the wise Of my great pow'r and mercy that they may Tremble at that and for this ever pray Thinks he fond man that I can always see And not redress my peoples misery No he shall find about this time to morrow The Heav'ns arm to magnify his sorrow Clouds dark and pregnant fortifi'd with Thunder A stormy shower shall hurl down to his wonder Hail of such unknown bigness and such weight As him and his with present Death will fright Bid him his Wise men call to assign the cause Of such a rupture in great Nature's Laws Ask if they can at once raise such a show'r As may begin such day and end such hour And in that time surround th' Egyptian Coasts Then bid defiance to the Lord of Hosts Go now proud Pharaoh try thy utmost skill To save thy people from this threatned ill If thou wilt yet be wise thy Cattle gather Out of the Fields since thou art Egypt's Father Pity thy Children with their Herds and Flocks Afford them shelter from the frozen Rocks Else by this plague such Slaughters will be seen Thro all thy Land as never yet hath been ' Behold the natures of the obdurate ' Tho all of them slight mercy yet ill fate ' Makes some distinction fear of punishment ' Forceth a few into acknowledgment ' Of pow'r divine and for their safety cry ' Whilst others fear'd and mad do still deny ' Obedience to their great superior ' Hush 't will be o'er said they t is but a shower Impending woe mov'd such as yet had sence To view the Fields in haste and bring from thence Shepherds and Herdsmen saying quickly fly Home with your herds and flocks or all must die Moses hath said it and we do believe That he from God not Satan did receive His Rod his fearful Rod hath such things done As show they were not wrought by him alone However we will for our safety try 'T is no great trouble if we live or dye Others who no regard had for his word Said what Egyptians believe the Lord Faint-hearted Fools unworthy such a King Who laughs at all the Messages they bring From their fam'd Gods our herds shall stay and graze And so like men we 'll dare him to his face Unheard of boldness said the Thunderer Unto his Servant now my mercy's ear Is shut for ever Therefore lift thy hand To Heaven I must send down a starry band Of Bow-men with such Bullets as shall beat Out of their hearts this irreligious heat Man Beast and Herbs thro all the Land shall feel The weighty Stones the keenness of my Steel Make no delay to Heav'n thy Rod stretch forth That I may send from the East West South and North Thunder and Hail and Fire these all around Shall fly aloft and run upon the ground With so great fury that the Waters face Bright horrour shall adorn and ev'ry place Look like it self transparent as the Fire And mixed Hail as if they were entire One body bright yet terrible to see Two el'ments joyn'd that never did agree The Rod's lift up then from the Clouds a voice Rendeth the Sky with such a dreadful noise That Earth tho heavy cannot longer stand But reels and staggers when it feels the hand Omnipotent who gave it its first base It gapes and opens so that there 's no place For Pasture Corn for Cattle Herbs and Trees All sink away unto their destinies Only in Goshen all-wise Providence Against this storm maketh a stout defence He that the troubled Ocean commands Forbid the Hail to fall upon those Lands This unlook'd for this great discrimination Betwixt th' Egyptian and the Hebrew Nation Made the King serious who doth now begin With forc'd
expressions to confess his sin To Moses and to Aaron saying thus Egypt is wicked Heav'n is Righteous Good men entreat your God once more for me To cease the Thundâ—rings let the Hail storm be Abated then what you desire I 'll give It is enough if I and mine may live I 'd better lose such Subjects than to hire Them at so dear a rate they shall retire To which the Prophet maketh this reply I must go hence before I lift on high My heart and hands for thee unto the Lord That th' Hail and Thunder may cease at my word And turn to their own elements to show That th' Heav'ns above are Gods and th' Earth below But I am sure when this great plague is o're Thy thoughts will be the same as heretofore Faithless and froward and thy sottish crew Of slavish Subjects will their rage renew The damage done by this seventh plague's so great That with dry Eyes no man can it repeat The Flax now ripe from whence the Staple trade Of Egypt had its rise and Linnen made By subtile corruscations withered The pond'rous Hail its bolls knopt off interr'd And bowing Barley calling for the hand Of nimble Sythe-man buried in the Sand. The Wheat and Rye that did not yet appear Were only sav'd from this great Massacre ' The Judgment must be great all must confess ' When Eden's turn'd into a Wilderness This Pharaoh saw but when thro Moses's pray'r The Sun dispers'd the Clouds and made all fair When Thunder Rain and Hail were called in He waxed worse and added sin to sin Whose ill example was so prevalent With all his Subjects that they likewise bent Their minds on future mischief and deny Their punisher to please or gratify Who now resolv'd on Egypt's desolation And the deliv'ry of the Hebrew Nation Said Moses Go unto the King yet know That I his heart have harden'd he 'll not bow To make my wisdom powâ—r and glory shine For ages after in the eyes of thine By thy instruction and may oft repeat With joy and gratitude the wonders great For their redemption wrought and constant prove To thee their Leader me their great Jehove Away in haste unto the faithless King And say the Hebrews God remembering His Servants slavery and thy peevishness Resolves thy ruin this is the Express He wonders at thy refractory Spirit Which will not humble after thy just merit Hath brought seven plagues 't is time his friends were gone The eighth is near a great and grievous one A dreadful host sent by a scorching wind From the South west will eat that 's left behind That will disrobe thy new-cloath'd Fields and Trees Of all their Summer Glories Liveries And such a Famine bring as heretofore When Jacob's Sons to Egypt first came o'er And greater much because the Hebrew Prince Joseph your Saviour is forgot long since Who like a father furnish'd you with Corn When faint thro hunger you did daily mourn Before his Gate His wise his melting heart Found out new measures by a divine art That might your wants supply and you relieve Not dreaming then that you his race would grieve With stripes disgrace with burthens and with death Revenge implacable and endless wrath These are your crimes and this your punishment To morrow Locusts will from Heav'n be sent Locusts so strange so great so numerous They 'll cover all the Land and fill each House The Land that promis'd you a small supply After the Hail and Rain shall putrifie The fruitful Trees shall shake their Leaves and bare Meadows shall look as Winter had been there Whate'er proud Nile and the attracting Sun Hath forced from the Earth shall be undone Nor shall your Bodies from them be excus'd Such measures you shall have as you have us'd Your Tongues and Hands were sharpen'd and your Swords Destroy'd my people your most pleasant words Like Serpents Vipers and like Wasps did bite The fainting feeble famisht Israelite Their poyson'd stings shall pierce your trembling veins Opening their Sluces as you did the Drains Thro Nile's great banks to vex my Servants hearts That when you feel the fury of their Darts You may bind up not chaff the wound that smarts This when the angry Prophet had exprest Without farewel he leaves him and the rest Unspoken All his Counsellors dismaid Seeing Moses to their King no reverence paid At his departure but with high disdain Show'd by his looks charg'd him once more on pain Of Death in haste to let the people go Cry 't is of God now we must own it so We must submit unto their God's decree And not of our own ruin authors be Tho we could flatter when all things went well We must give over now and frankly tell The King that he not we began this 〈◊〉 In which we 're daily worsted better far It is to yield than wait th' unknown event We see their Magazines cannot be spent They are not men we fight with when the pow'rs Of Heav'n and Earth are raised what are ours A loathsome Louse a Frog a Flie can bring Destruction on us and on our King Come le ts not dally here the Monarch comes Chaffâ—d with the late affront he stares he foams Who dares accost him in this furious mood His trembling shows the thirsteth after blood But we must tâ—y before it be too late With him about this matter to debate Great Sir our grief not boldness makes us offer The Nations state our troubles will not suffer â—onger connivance speedy remedy Must be consulted on 'twixt us and thee Earth Water Fire and Air do all agree Against our Counsels to set Israel free It must be done necessity hath no Law Pray Sir be wise and let the men withdraw My Lords it is not strange that loss and fear Give you occasion to accost my ear With such surprizing Language But I wonder That Jannes Jambres who so oft did Thunder Another Dialect should cringe and truckle Against the rules of their own art and buckle To foreign fancies Yet it grieves me most That this grave Priest should too himself be lost Who Pharaoh wished the fondling brat to kill His Daughters joy before he had done ill All made returns the mighty Lords begin Great Sir the loss is yours we would not sin Against a Prince so glorious so great Against a fertile Land and potent State Of all we must be guilty if we do Our eyes hoodwink our senses brains forego It is the glory of a Courtier First to foresee and then prevent the shower This is our Province time lost to recover Is full of hazard Pray Great Sir give over The Sorcerers in order next appear Blushing with shame and stupifi'd with fear Dread Soveraign say they our mortal state Admits of changes while this grand debate 'Twixt Heav'n and you lay dormant our Ally's Taught us both God and Men how to despise You you great Sir excepted now they flie They dare not ape Heav'ns smallest prodigy Nor
us encourage you to gratify The aged Father last of all comes forth With Mitred head gray hairs of famed worth Who said O King your great experience Of my fidelity and vast expence Deserves of you a better recompence I told that King before the Child was born That he would be the cause of Egypt's scorn If then his Death by him had been decreed As I requested Egypt had been freed From all these plagues For he himself presaged In Childish sports what he would do when aged Pharaoh his Infant Temples did adorn With Egypt's Crown which he pull'd off in scorn By which most just suspicion he gave That he would force the Sceptre not receive It from his hands Then it was my advice That death should pay him for the enterprize But now 't's too late he 's King you his Viceroy Which I forsee you will not long enjoy He threatens kills commands and which is more Destroys our Lands their Fruits and all our store There is but one way left us to preserve Egyyt from ruin that we may not starve To let them go that they may serve the Lord Perhaps this Moses may perform his word He says Heav'n's merciful and will repent Of his fierce anger if ill men relent You have o'rcome me said the raging King Go out in haste Moses and Aaron bring A Monarch is no Monarch when alone His Subjects ruin'd let the men be gone To do as they have said yet I must see Th' extent of this great Goal-delivery Moses Heav'n's fury acted by thy hand I am no longer able to withstand Tell me but who must go Let modesty bound your demands and they shall granted be Who asks too much his own denyal craves I will not part at once with all my Slaves You are not ignorant great Sir I know By this time that my Message from below Came not just Heaven me often did command The Tribes to carry out of Egypt's land And they must go Men Children Herds and Sheep None must be absent when our Feasts we keep Unto Jehovah Is this the justice of your fam'd Jehove Is this the kindness of your God of love To his Vicegerents said the angry King Must they submit to every idle thing That he requires Must every Slave have power To spoil their goods and honours to deflow'r No this great point I will dispute and try Who must be here obeyed he or I Your little ones as pledges I will keep Till you return Go you with Herds and Sheep If this will not content you look you to it I 'll punish you with stripes and Death to boot The present losses I thro you sustain My honour shall repair which I 'll regain By conqu'ring him in you his Subjects slain Go then I say and let your Children stay What! Murmur Serjeants drive the fools away The General omnipotent who far Or near ne'er yet made one false step in War Laugh'd at the indiscretion of his foe And said to his Lieutenant you must go With new rais'd Troops to curb the insolence Of this unwary this bewitched Prince Let Eurus be the Trumpeter whose breath Shall animate the Army threatning Death Death unto Men and Beasts that they may see I do demand this Goal-delivery He spoke no sooner than he was obey'd The hand is stretched forth and Rod display'd O'er Egypt Land then the East Wind doth call The Catterpillers Locusts Insects all Out of their slimy dust who buz and fly About the ears of every stander by Seizing on all the Fruits they could destroy The Earth was cover'd with the numerous swarms No Tree no Fruit no Herb escap't their harms Their Eyes their Mouths their Stings were merciless This made the Prince with tears his grief express Unto the Brethren with heart-breaking voice I cannot longer hear this dreadful noise ' O! that Heav'n had not brought me to the Throne ' O! that I 'd Hermit been and liv'd alone ' In unfrequented Groves in Woods and Caves ' Careless of Crowns Lands Subjects or of Slaves ' If Heav'n had been my Canopy my Bed ' The Flow'ry Earth the Pillow for my Head 'A bundle of Vi'lets Pinks or Cammomile ' Rose-buds with Lillies and sweat smelling Dill ' My meat wild Fruits with quintessence of Bees ' My Drink sweet Liquors from the juicy Trees ' My recreation hunting of the Hare ' The vacant hours I could from Study spare ' Or Fox or Deer or what I liked best ' I had not then by Heav'n been thus opprest ' But so Jehove would have it he did raise ' Me to this shame for his immortal praise ' That Kings may learn true wisdom and their Subjects ' Dread ev'n in thought such great such fearful objects ' As high ambition Diabolick pride ' Will bring on all like Pharaoh stupifi'd ' My hainous crimes and grievous punishment ' Will fright the worst and force them to repent ' As I begin O! may 't not be too late ' I grieve I mourn Alas my cursed fate ' Made me offend your God his Sons and you ' For which I pardon crave with tears and vow ' My Life I see is threat'ned yet spare ' This once that I may see what 's mercies are ' Forgive forgive my friends and you shall see ' That weeping Pharaoh will not falsify Moses the God-like Moses judg'd his heart By his expressions knew no wheedling art Whose Sympathy with tears made him depart And thus accost his maker I have prov'd The King who begs this plague may be remov'd At my request my God let it be so Since he hath vowed that the men shall go Without delay yet be that as it will Omnipotence hath Armies that can kill As these have done such wonders more when shown The more men will thy Justice Mercy own It shall be done I 'll call a Western Wind Shall clear the Land tho you him falfe will find That all those living Clouds shall headlong bear To the Arabick watry Sepulcher Whose purple waves will quickly overflow And send them to the fish that dwell below A Feast that heretofore they did not know I will not leave one Locust on his Coasts That he may know I am the Lord of Hosts This done the Hypocrite forgets his woe His solemn vow and will not let them go Moses said God the blindness of this man Hath still encreased since the War began With us since wonders will not ope his eyes The Sun the Moon the Air shall him despise Stretch out thy Rod to Heav'n and damp the Fires Give light and heat to th' Earth and mens desires With pleasure gratify and let no Star Our En'mies guide it is a time of War Make the Air thick and black for three days space That none of them may see anothers face But fixed sit not rising from his place Yet let my Servants have their wonted joy In Goshen light to see that I employ My wisdom power and justice arm'd with might On their behalf
that they 're my hearts delight Day put 's on mourning the night birds appear At noon the Hemisphere wax'd black with fear Thinking that Phoebus would come no more there Cynthia for shame creepeth behind the Earth Castor and Pollux weeping cease to breath Their flaming Vapours all the rest do wrap Their drowsie heads in troubled Thetis's lap Thousands of terrours thro the darkness fled The Ghosts complain'd the Spirits murmured Then Egypt like the damn'd did howl and cry For glo'worm-light which Heaven doth them deny This made the King again for Moses call Say'ng you may go your little ones and all Except your Flocks and Herds they must remain With me in safety till you come again ' Ah! Moses Moses was not thou the boy ' Drawn out of Nile to be the Princess joy ' In Flaggen boat Did not that King pass by ' Thy Childish faults and crimes of deeper dye ' Of all his Armies thou wast General ' Peer unto him and Daughter dear to all ' All was committed to thy prudent care ' Then be not be not executioner 'To their successor speak yet to thy friend Whose mercies as you say do never end Your Cattle leaving for my proper use The rest may go I will no more refuse Sir your fair promise would prevail with me If I was Master of my Liberty When I was banish'd first from Pharoah's Court I with my Flocks to Horeb did resort Horeb much fam'd for Spirits habitation I chose for pasture and for meditation Where I continued till one Summer-day I sought a Sheep that from the rest did stray Amongst the Thickets one of which did show Like Flames above and yet unburn'd below A voice from thence came to my trembling ear Which I am sure said Moses come not near The place where thou dost stand is holy ground This double wonder cast me in a swound From which reviv'd appeared to my sight A form divine than Cherubin more bright With charming Language such as Seraphs use In courting Mortals who by craft refuse Heav'ns favours and the best inheritance By this rouz'd up I made a small advance Whom he perceiving readily did meet And with a Godlike smile thus did me greet Moses in Egypt born thou know'st it well Its King and all the Strangers in it dwell They 're mine tho poor afflicted and distrest That King and people have them long opprest Thou must be first Ambassador then Guide To bring them over to the other side Of Jordan Great Sir this was my Commission I must not alter it without permission Pray urge no more this is a fond device Without our Flocks we cannot Sacrifice Nor offerings make It is Jehovah's mind That we in Egypt leave no hoof behind This general command we must obey Yet know not when we come what he will say Unto us more Devotion chiefly tends To Heav'n's praise with many other ends Unknown to thee The more I do comply the more I treat In love and calmness your new zeal and he at Encreaseth I must leave the whole debate Moses be gone look to thy self if I Again behold thy face thou' rt sure to die Thou hast well spoken this is Prophecy For one act more compleats thy Tragedy A plague to which the rest shall seem but small Shall not upon thy Flocks and Cattle fall Alone as heretofore but shall destroy The oldest pledges of your loves and joy This for a time shall move thy stubborn heart To favour Isra'l force them to depart And when resistance thou shalt after make What the Sword leaves the foaming Sea shall take Know then proud King when all are fast asleep This night when thee thy doubled Guards do keep Michael fam'd for strength and warlike power By Heav'n's warrant shall break ope each door In thy unhallow'd Country and shall kill From Egypt's heir that next the Throne should fill To hers that grindeth in the Bridewel Mill None of the first-born shall alive remain Of Men of Women Beasts all shall be slain Whose dying shrieks and groans shall pierce thy Soul And make their frighted Parents cry and howl Unheard of woes thy fearful heart shall seize While they in Goshen live in health and ease Each of their doors shall have a Centinel The grand destroyers hand that my repel The Crimson'd Posts and Lintels shall reveal Heav'ns secret will to him that bears the Steel When thou dost see this great discrimination Betwixt the Hebrew and Egyptian Nation Thy Menaces thou will repent and send The best of all thy subjects who will bend To me and say be gone with all ye have To whom I 'll answer Now no leave I crave But in despite of you and of your King At Heav'n's command we will make offering Do what thou canst I 'll see thy face no more The Death thou threat'nest is at thy own door Thy harden'd heart Heav'n's hand will quickly break When he on thee and thine doth vengeance take ' Ah! Pharaoh what a dismal change is this ' Must I deprived be of all my bliss ' Upbraided scorn'd and slighted by a Slave ' Who holds his life of me yet doth behave ' As King o'er us and all we have ' My feeble Gods whose Altars I have smoak't ' With best Perfumes your Deities invok't ' Why stand you gazing on my misery ' Hath a poor Shepherd greater pow'r than ye ' And you infernal Spirits whose great boasts ' Perswaded me there was no Lord of Hosts ' Have you no Philtre no Enchanted Spell ' Or is there no experiment in Hell ' Against this Moses and against his Rod ' Alas I fear you think there is a God ' If so I am undone I 'll not submit ' Destruction is the worst can come of it By this time night the dreadful night drew on For Egypt's first-born's execution An Angel thro the Air came flying down With speedy wing o'r Egypt's Memphis Town Who without sight or noise view'd all the Tow'rs Of Pharaoh's lofty house and 's Subjects Bow'rs Finds out the Victims and on them doth try The keenness of his Sword by which they die And dying with their groans do pierce the Sky For each his eldest Child saw gasping out Its tender Soul with blood which flew about From Wound and Mouth and Nostrils with great pain And heard their cries to Heav'n for help in vain This made a doleful sound o'er Egypt's plain ' Rachel mourn'd not so long so loud as they ' When Benjamin to his en'mies was a prey ' Nor when the Fox her Children all did slay 'To theirs the mourning in Megiddo's vale ' For good Josiah was no parallel Here ev'ry House sobb'd out the same complaint My eldest's dead ne'er was such punishment The King himself awak'd with this alarm Cry'd out O Heav'n hath this destroyer's arm Bereav'd me of my Successor in State I see I must repent when 't is too late Let none like me again with Heav'n debate Call in the Brothers quickly tho
't is night They shall go hence before next morning light With Flocks and Herds and all they can desire For which great favour I will nought require But faithful pray'rs to God for me and mine Who knows He may repent his ear incline To pity me and haste his own design This heard his Subjects all do beg and pray Moses to hasten Israel away Haste haste say they if any thing you lack We 're readier to give than you 're to take Our lives are more to us than what we give When you are gone we and our Babes may live This like melodious Musick to thier ears Warm'd their chill'd blood and banish'd all their fears They had full wages for four hundred years The signal given our torn and helpless crew Like forward spring their Liveries renew And furnish'd with new garments and their Slaves Bid them farewel Their Victuals drest to halves Yet their old foes enrag'd to see them go Tho with consent said it must not be so Now we are miserable what have we done The Slaves with all our Treasures hence are gone Good news to Pharaoh who a Council calls Saying my friends we must find Generals Horses and Chariots Men and Ammunition In haste you know th' intended expedition My eyes are open'd I cannot behold Those Slaves enriched with our Cloaths and Gold They took and wear they â—…re Trophies of our Shame And Cowardice which very things to name Are worse than death to him whom Gods above Nor men below could ever yet remove From his intended purposes till now Of which the reason yet I do not know Heav'n sure 's appeased since I 've let them go Tho I perceive they have no mind to leave My borders while they 've paid for what they have Their God repents him of the Violence Offer'd to us before they went from hence This makes them go about and not pursue The beaten roads they heretofore well knew When they for Corn to Egypt came and when With Jacob's Corps they back return'd agen Their late rebellion proves to them a snare Since they a lazy unarm'd people are They cannot fight their flight we need not fear Up let us follow and cut off their Rear Dread Sir said they your thoughts were always great Nor Gods nor men your courage could abate Pray be advis'd before this enterprize You undertake lest you prove after-wise In vain you sought to hinder them when here And we your subjects all about you were Our threats our blows and what we could invent Wrought for their good and for our punishment Heav'n always doth protect the innocent Behold the ruins of your shatter'd state The murder'd Heirs of Egypt small and great Think on the threatnings you did calmly bear Think on your darling off-spring then declare What hopes you have to catch them in a snare Their God's the same their Leader constant wise Therefore great Sir leave off this enterprize It will prove fatal if our dream be true Last night O King we saw our selves with you In warlike posture following the men We lately forc't to go from us and then We likewise saw Heav'n open'd whence came down An Host most terrible 'bout Succoth Town Of Giant stature and of stern aspect Who seem'd their Swords to brandish and direct To our proud Throats while we did stupid stand Not daring to resist move tongue nor hand Away with dreams haste up and let us show Our selves Heav'ns rivals and his peoples too 'T is now or never that we must attack The wand'ring Slaves and kill or bring them back Their God himself it seems doth them forsake Their way was smooth and short nor Seas nor Rocks Could stop the passage of themselves or Flocks But missing that they have no way to ' scape The Hills they cannot climb nor o'er Seas leap That are before them Wilderness and Rocks On each side we behind whose deadly strokes Will soon reduce them to their Slavery Since they can neither fight nor from us fly This said they mount their Chariots in haste The Horse and Infantry scarce take repast Who by their doubled marches soon o'ertake The ftighted Jews whose hearts began to ake Together run in heaps like fearful Sheep Attack'd by Dogs or Wolves when those should keep Are either absent or are fast asleep Who pat and stare the harmless dialect Of their just fear as if that would effect Their rescue So the Tribes with direful tone Cry unto God and Moses whom they stone Would both of you had let us still alone To serve in Egypt then if we had dy'd We might like men have there been bury'd Whereas we must be drowned now or slain We will beg pardon and return again Moses who all this time was griev'd to see The peoples rudeness infidelity Doth first expostulate and then entreat Them to forbear their blasphemy and heat And wait with patience a successful end Of all their troubles What if you be penn'd Up in this Creek What tho the Rocks and Waves Conspire your death What if these Hell-born Slaves Resolve your future thraldom and your Death Shakeoff all fear there 's hope as long as breath 'T was Heav'n that brought you hither and not I To show his pow'r in your delivery Which you should not distrust but magnify Since he is faithful who hath promised And by this work will show that you are freed Beyond your expectation Stand but still Whatever Pharaoh thinks it is Gods will That you escape this danger and your foes The outmost feel of their late feared woes Stand still Heaven bids me say you have no cause To grieve they must submit unto his Laws While you look on and with triumphant Tongues Sing his due praise who hath redress'd your wrongs All silent and the Prophet gone to pray Heav'ns hears commands that Isra'l make his way Unto the foamy shore where they must stand Fearless and wait the ebb when Moses's hand Shall smite the Waves and bid them bare the Sand To make a way pal'd on each side with glass On which the fainting Tribes might safely pass Beyond the reach of any Enemy May them infest or make discovery Of their night-march until it was too late With God or Moses friendship to create Who will behonour'd on all those that know Him or shall read of this great overthrow They move th' Egyptians laugh and say aloud We thought the Hebrews God had understood What was most proper for his peoples good But now we plainly see they 're led by chance Which cannot work their wish'd deliverance They 're safe enough Halt let the Infantry Refresh themselves and sing the Victory To morrow will be soon enough to drive The fools into the Sea or keep alive Such as will quarter crave and say they are At our disposal Prisoners of war Their Arms grounded the Horses Provender Eat Chariots serve for Tents in sudden War Where they betook themselves to free repose And did conclude tho Heav'n was to
dispose Of both the Armies who his Angel sent To guards his friends when thro the Sea they went By spreading of a dark and dismal Cloud O'er Egypt's Host while lighted Torches stood By the transparent walls to fright the Flood And light his Servants to the other shore That they might see their enemies no more Alive The sign giv'n Heav'n rais'd the wind That made the Sea contract it self and bind Its furious waves that they might not o'erflow The Walls above nor the new way below Isra'l trod safe th' Egyptians pursue Nor knowing where they were till morning dew Was by the Sun exhal'd and they oâ—erthrew The Foot and Horse sink in the slimy Sands The Chariots cast their Wheels the Riders hands Were feeble when they saw themselves surrounded By th' impetuous Ocean that rebounded With swelling forc't by Thunder and by Rain While they sought to retire but all in vain Heav'n fights for them said they why should we strive Against the stream Is Pharaoh yet alive He was the author of this Tragedy Oh! dye we must we cannot longer flie Vengeance Divine which we have justly brought Upon our selves and this destruction wrought Winds have no ears the Seas are merciless When Heav'n by Men or Angels sends th' express Farewel dear Egypt farewel happiness ' Let Tyrants tremble where my pen relates ' Th' Almighty's fury and th' Egyptian fates ' They fight he wards till that unhappy war ' Wax'd so intense that justice could not spare ' Small parties foil'd he call'd the Arieaban ' Armies too fierce too numerous for man ' The Serpent leads the Van. Their waters fry ' Themselves in blood and took its crimson dye ' Blood that their Streams with stench did putrify ' The drowsy Insects all strong poyson speak ' Frogs haunt the Palace as the watry creek ' Lice there without an optick might be seen ' On the Kings Carpets and the Peasants Skreen ' The mystie Clouds forbad the healthful Sun ' Sucking their poyson while the work was done ' He likewise blusht to see the insolence ' Offer'd to wisdom and omnipotence ' The Stars danc'd up into a higher sphere 'To bath themselves in the Crystal waters there ' Hell storm'd the lower orbs and left its hue ' Black as Egyptian and then withdrew ' At last a Prince of great fidelity ' In Heav'ns guards the first Majestick high ' With vailed face his humble honours made 'To his adored Soveraign thus said ' Holy of Holies 't is your patience ' Procures you all this trouble and expence ' Give me command and this great debate ' Shall soon be ended with their first born's fate ' Your pow'r my hand the Rebels seed shall kill ' As they the infant blood of yours did spill ' He goes with armed Pestilence and Sword ' Two edged sharp for both were Heav'n's word ' And smote the first of all their Beasts and Men ' The sottish crew too late believed then ' So Heav'n would have 't that by this overthrow ' Of theirs a false presumptuous world might know ' That first or last he would proud mortals bow ' Who hastes his out with all things necessar'e ' For their intended journey and their fare ' But ah the wicked's mercies cruel are ' For they like Bears robb'd of their Whelps when young ' With furious haste after Heav'ns Free-men throng ' Resolving to make one attempt for all ' Return Victorious or for ever fall ' And so it was for they no sooner charge ' The Rear of those he did intend t' inlarge ' Than the great Angel of the Covenant came ' As after in the Flesh and quencht their flame ' He was the guide who led them to the shore 'A place made by his power fit to pass o'er 'A Cloud gave light to them that went before ' He view'd the Rear and made the Cloud opac 'To ' maze th' Egyptians and to keep them back ' Commanding Moses to divide the stream ' While they all night lay in a Golden dream ' Pleas'd with the hopes of Conquest while the Sun ' Show'd them the Nest from whence the Birds were gone ' The way they thought was pleasant smooth and plain ' Not knowing that that way would them enshrine ' And so march boldly till a furious Wind ' Rais'd by Jehovah did the Walls unbind ' That rail'd the path to guide his people safe 'To th' other side This did th' Egyptians chafe ' For untam'd surges swell and fill the place ' Where Israel dry-shod walkt no empty space ' Was left The Quick-sands rise they sink below ' The billows did their Chariots overthrow ' Teaching them by experience Heav'n to know ' Half dead some backward and some forward strive ' Tho Neptune vow'd none should go out alive ' Prayers were their last shift but they pray'd in vain ' Men of deserv'd ills must not complain ' Their King they blame for his ill conduct had ' He blames himself for all his insults made ' Gainst God and Isra'l the last words he said ' His Standards fallen and all his daring blades ' Drunk with the Sea he tumbled to the shades THE SONG of MOSES After the VICTORY EXOD. XV. ' AWake my Soul and sing Jehovah's praise ' O! may Jehovah my dull Spirits raise ' May Heav'n's Arch-Flamine give me light and heat ' That I with Zeal may on this subject treat ' O! that I might that double portion have ' Eijah once to his Elisha gave ' May Choires of Angels from the sacred Throne ' Help me to sing this Epinicion Great God! our lives our all we owe to thee For thou alone hast got this Victory By drowning all our en'mies in the Sea Sing Hallelujah Horses are vain things to be trusted in Char'ots tho Iron by the Riders sin Will drown and sink when Justice doth begin Sing Hallelujah No battle ever so unequal known Never was host so easily o'erthrown The Winds and Sea this wond'rous work have done Sing Hallelujah We we faint-hearted Foreigners stood still Trembling and scolding tho against our will Until we saw our en'mies case was ill Sing Hallelujah Then we some prospect had of Victory When thou for us a path made thro the Sea 'T was thou not we triumphed gloriously Sing Hallelujah We thro thy strength do stand upon this shore And see our en'mies floating dead nay more Their Horse and Chariots tost the flood all o're Sing Hallelujah He is my strength my song and my salvation He hath reliev'd the hated Hebrew Nation Therefore I will build him an habitation Sing Hallelujah His Covenant with faithful Abra'm made What he to Isaac and to Jacob said Is all fulfilled by this our present aid Sing Hallelujah What Men of War do for those in distress His pow'r for feeble us hath done no less His name 's Jehovah whom we'll ever bless Sing Hallelujah The proud Kings Host was utterly destroy'd When they our Lives and Land thought t o've enjoy'd And us as formerly in Bricks employ'd Sing Hallelujah His chosen men not able to withstand The watry Troops unhors'd and on the Land Are cast or bury'd in the slimy Sand. Sing Hallelujah This unknown way was made for us alone Soft for our feet the Rocks upon us shone Which they attempting sunk down like a Stone Sing Hallelujah We have exper'ence of thy wondrous pow'r Thy glor'ous right hand did our foes devour Saving us at our last and fatal hour Sing Hallelujah Thou didst but blow upon them yet that wind Gather'd the floods together and did bind Them up in heaps that we a way might find Sing Hallelujah The en'my said pursuing we will take These fugitives and kill or bring them back Dividing all the spoil we from them take Sing Hallelujah Lord who among the Gods is like to thee Spotless and Holy full of Majesty Thy praises fearful wonders many be Sing Hallelujah Thy mercy we believe will save and lead Thy Sons redeem'd unto a fertile meed Where they may safely rest and freely feed Sing Hallelujah They that inhabit Palestine shall hear Approaching sorrow will increase their fear With all their Neigbouring Countries far or near Sing Hallelujah The lofty Dukes of Edom shall be then Greatly amazed Moab's mighty men Losing their courage tremble shall with pain Sing Hallelujah The Canaanites tho strong with grief opprest With trembling hearts and voice will say it 's best To leave the Land that Isra'l may have rest Sing Hallelujah Such dread shall fall upon them by thine arm As will their mouths stop lest they offer harm To us when we do over Jordan swarm Sing Hallelujah Then to the place of thy great holiness Thou shalt us bring and we with joy express In all our Songs this weighty business Sing Hallelujah Say'ng O Lord thou shalt for ever reign Since Pharaoh and his Host who caus'd our pain Are drown'd and we on dry Land see them slain Sing Hallelujah It is our turn said Miriam now to sing The weaker Sex by praise may honour bring Unto Jehovah Nissi our great King Sing Hallelujah Our instruments of all sorts let us take Harps Flutes with Timbrels and sweet Music make To him who hath wrought wonders for our sake Sing Hallelujah Great God! our lives our all we owe to thee Since thou alone hast wrought this Victory By drowning all our enemies in the Sea Sing Hallelujah FINIS
who grasp at every reed This feign'd affection their faint hopes doth feed They ran and said Dread Soveraign we know That we our selves are yours and labours owe Unto this State We trust therefore that ye For pities sake will alter the decree Publish'd against us by your royal will That without Straw our tasks we should fulfil If this be in our pow'r Great Sir be judge Tho use and hardship have taught us to drudge We 're beaten without fault they are the cause Who counsel first and then desire that Laws May be enacted on pretence of good To Egypt but we know it 's for our blood For which they long have thirsted and expect By your command that murder to effect Prevent them Sir No no you idle be I cannot will not alter my Decree Your new devotion made you over-quick Go hence and work I 'll show you trick for trick ' As long besieged Castles when they see 'A bloody Flag hung out when Soldiers be ' Decoy'd to Ambuscade when Seamen fling ' Their Masts o'er board Bale Goods and ev'ry thing ' Or when the nighted Trav'ller falls in pit ' And men condemn'd in darkest Dungeons sit O'erwhelm'd with endless grief such was the state Of Pharoah's bondmen when the knew their fate ' One swounds one cryes one tears his hairs and breast ' Another rageth desperate the rest What shall we do said they See! Moses comes Let 's meet him and relate our fearful dooms Now past on us upbraid him he 's the cause Of our destruction by these bloody Laws Ah! cruel man ran thy Commission thus Thou said'st Heaven bid thee publish unto us We'd better much never have seen thy face Than suffer thus by work stripes and disgrace If just such methods are let Heav'n be judge Before thou cam'st we wrought we did not drudge But thy ungrateful message to the King Hath made us loathsome unto every thing That is in Egypt thy bold bitter words Sharpen their hearts against us as their Swords This they with fury in their looks express Would thou had'st stay'd yet in the Wilderness We at our burthens then we might have had Th' Egyptian's love with Straw for our Brick trade Both now are lost and we our selves in danger To be destroyed in our Monarch's anger Moses distrusting what might be th' event Of this harsh menace highly discontent Look'd pale and trembled grief so seiz'd his heart That neither Aaron's love nor Aaron's art Could cure those wounds tho green they did so smart This made him have recourse unto the Lord And peremptor'ly say who can thy word Believe hereafter since our first attempt Is shamefully repuls'd with scorn contempt This was my fear when thou to me didst say Go unto Egypt bring my Sons away Thy promises to us increase our pain Why didst thou send me I 'll return again To Midian since I see thy providence Promotes our sorrows not deliverance The Tribes despair of ever going hence ' Tho Providence be beautiful and bright ' And brings things that most hidden are to light ' It often works by means that contrary are 'To Human Reason for it Reason far ' Exceedeth yet it hath the wished end ' Good to the good man and the good mans friend ' 'T was providence that made young Joseph dream ' His Parents and his brethren were the theme ' By which his future fortunes were display'd ' Tho he knew neither what he dreamt or said ' Yet for that dream was envy'd sold betray'd Falsely accus'd condemn'd to prison fast Strange steps to make him Egypt's Lord at last What! Faithless Moses fearful dost thou fret Why stumblest in the Porch the time 's not yet Fulfilled for the work wait thou shalt see What I will do ' gainst Pharaoh what for thee I 'll call my thund'ring Legions from above To force your passage that you may remove In spite of your opposers Egypt's King Shall willingly to you assistance bring It is to me a wonder that you should Dispute my promises since Abraâ—m could Without such firmly rest upon my pow'r For all he had from 's his birth to 's his dying hour El-shaddaj to him was sufficient And to his children whitherso'er they went They scarce the name Jehovah e'er did spell But of Adonia talkt and lik'd that well When I to them of Canaan promise made They trusted in my pow'r and always said What! tho we strangers be Our God can give This and much more altho we may not live To see it done it is enough that ours Shall of that Land be the inheritors The time is come my patience is abus'd My Servants by proud Pharaoh so ill us'd That their sad groans which I seem'd to despise Have mov'd my justice now I must arise To vindicate my truth revenge the spite Acted on every suffering Israelite Hope still in me my promise I 'll not break I will redeem you for my promise's sake Go to the Tribes and say I am the Lord I cannot falsify recal my word I 'll bring them forth from under Egypt's yoke And gently lead them they 're my tender flock To Canaanitish pastures where they may In safety sleep wake sacrifice and pray Without disturbance Pharaoh nor his land Shall take them out of the Almighty's hand My formidable actions when they see Their might and rage shall truckle under me Then I with mine my Cov'nant will renew My Love is great although they be but few I will go with them to the wilderness Where with my presence I 'll begin their bliss If they obstruct not their own happiness They Canaan shall possess it shall be theirs By firm entail for them and for their Heirs I will make good whatever I have said Because that God who the first promise made Which you will own when I th' Egyptian King With all his Subjects to destruction bring Then be no more shame-fac'd of fearful heart Go all these tydings to the Jews impart I know they 're vexed and will not believe That I th' Almighty can give a Reprieve From their hard bondage Go unto the King Who peevishly will ask what news ye bring To which with boldness you shall answer make Thy Slaves are Freemen now they must go back From whence they came ' Who would not be Religious and fears ' The wonder-worker whose great mercies are ' Fixt as the Winters Moon and Summer Son ' Lasting when both are scorched up and done ' His promises his favour and his grace ' Were ever such to the Isacides Moses revolving his late reprimand Receiv'd from Pharaoh with a palsied hand And trembling tongue said Lord it is in vain To offer this unto the Tribes again Since Aaron's words nor my great signs they have Regarded hitherto why should I crave That of a wrathful King which they 'll deny Since I can neither of them gratify Are these your thoughts you better things might know Your fear makes you thus scrupulously slow How dares man stay