with you hence So Joseph he in Egypt died when His age it was an hundet'd years and ten And was embalm'd and put into his Chest Joseph is gone to everlasting rest Glory to God who is enthron'd on high Sing praises to his heavenly Majesty Angels and men his holy Name adore And Hallelujah Sing for evermore Amen The Blessed Virgins Song Luke 1. Beginning at the 46 verse MY Soul doth praise the Lord with meek behaviour My spirit doth rejoyce in God my Saviour He hath regarded now the Low estate Of his Hand-Maiden happy is my fate For now behold henceforth 't will be exprest All generations still shall call me blest For he that is Almighty he hath done To me great things who is the Holy One. His mercies are on them that do him fear From age to age his goodness doth appear He strength hath shewed with his mighty Arm The proud to scatter that imagin harm He hath put down the mighty now I see And hath exalted them of low degree He hath the hungry fill'd which go astray With good the rich hath empty sent away And he hath help'd his servant Israel In his abounding mercy that excell As he spake to our Father 's heretofore To Abr'ham and his seed for evermore Hallelujah His Lamentation beholding London and Westminster upon the new Monument VVHich now is rais'd and built near to the place That dreadful fire first began it's race Which for the space of four dayes did Burn And did our City into Ashes turn And now succeeding Ages may remember To bear in mind the second of September It has a Golden top resembl'ng Fire That all Spectators far and near admire And 't is for Height so Stately to behold Above an hundr'd Paces three times told Upon this sumptuous Pillar I did stand And thus bewail'd the Glory of the Land Behold those Cities how they do abound With Sodomires How they are compass'd round And how with Zion they do both reside Stiff neck'd and Haughty and pufft up with pride Like to the Daughters of Jerusalem Our City-Dames may be compar'd to them With wanton dresses each of them bedecks And walking daily with forth-stretched necks How unbecoming Christians how unmeet They walk and make a tinkling with their feet Alas these Cities may not we with sorrow Compare them both to Sodom and Gomorrah The greatest sins that were committed there The same if not far worse are acted here For why we sin against a greater Light Living in wanton pleasures day and night Alas I fear of us it may be said We worse than Sodom have the wanton play'd Both great and small profane thy Name O God Yet thou art mercifull and spares thy Rod. Let not thy gracious mercies stop our ears But fill our hearts with Grief our Eyes with Tears We may in Sack-cloath weep both day and night And each of us become a Ninivite Lord when thy servant Jonah thou hadst sent To Niniveh how soon they did repent Let Jonah Lord to us such tidings bring We may Lament with Niniveh's great King And to appease thy Judgements let us hast To put on Sack-cloath and proclaime a Fast For who can tell if God will spare our City Our sins are great how can he shew us pity O Lord forgive our sins for they are many And if within our Cities there are any That loves thy Gospel and do fear thy Name Let them be Pillars to support the same We may not Lord be swallow'd up as Korah Nor be destroy'd as Sodom and Gomorrah O let thy Gospel flourish and remain Amongst us let it not be Preacht in vain Left in the end we should become as those On whom thou did'st pronounce thy dreadfull woes Who did revile our blessed Lord and Saviour His glorious teaching and his meek behaviour Who doubtless Suffers now his dreadfull ire The wofull Vengeance of eternall fire O let us not be Citizens with them Let 's be a Type of new Jerusalem Build up our places wast and desolate Write Holiness t'thy Self upon each gate O let our gates with righteousness be baâ—'d And let thy Holy Angels be our guard Let Abraham intreat for us and pray And Let just Lot within our Cities stay Let Righteousness and Peace each other greet And like a mighty stream run down each-street Then shall we Lord thy holy Word imbrace Then shall we ever be a Holy Place A place of Mirth in Singing Psalmes and Hymns And Heavenly Anthems to th' King of Kings Hasten us Lord our feet may swiftly run The way of peace so shall thy will be done We may thy glorious Majesty adore And Sing thy praises Lord for evermore Amen Make haste O Lord let this thy will be done And hast the Kingdom of thy blessed Son And let us watch and not asleep be found When thy Arch-Angels shall thy Trumpets sound To raise the dead O Lord both small and great For to appear before thy Judgement-seat Yea when thy Trumpets sound the dead shall rise All mortalls shall come to this great Assize The Moon shall lose his light the stars shall fall From heaven Lord at this thy dreadfull Call The Element shall melt and with a noise Shall pass away at dread Jehovah's voice And then with Power and glory shining Clear The Son of Man shall in the clouds appear Whose glory shines so glorious and so bright The Sun shall turn to blood and lose its light And then the Tribes of all the earth shall mourn With dreadfull fear to see the Heavens burn Then shall the Righteous shine forth as the fun Whose righteous Race the wicked have out run Who dare not cry Lord Lord have mercy on us But cry out Rocks and Mountains fall upon us To hide them from the presence of the Lord But Rocks and Mountains shall no place afford No! Kings and Princes shall receive their doom Judges themselves must now to Judgement come No Bribes nor Fees now Justice shall take place The Righteous Judge will plead the Poor mans case And in his justice wil pronounce this sentence Upon all those that dy'd without Repentance The Whore-monger the Swearer and the Lier Depart ye Curs'd into eternal Fire But to the Righteous thus the Lord will say Come come ye bless'd into eternal Joy In Joyes unspeakable ever for to Sing Sweet Hallelujah's to your heavenly King O who will not Gods Holy Word obey And tremble at the thoughts of this great day Let 's watch and pray we may our selves prepare Lest it should come upon us unaware Hallelujah His Verses upon the 5th of November the 30th of January and the 29th of May. For the Fifth of November NOw was that Cursed Jesuite-invention So cruel and so horrid an intention With Romish Powder found out by a Fryer Whose Subtilty the Devil might admire A dreadfull Blow that quickly would have sent Up to the Clouds our King and Parliament A hellish Plot in secret Wrought by night Which the Almighties Wisdom brought to light The Papal actions to a sudden shame Blessed for ever be his holy Name Now to this day it 's call'd the Powder plot Throughout this Land never to be forgot Which day we keep in Memory therefore To be observ'd till Time shall be no more For the 30th of January O Day of horror thou that art confin'd To be forgot and yet be bore in mind Thou fill'st this Land with grievous Lamentations To be a hissing to all forraign Nations The very Heathens where we traffick bring Cry out false Traytors you that kill'd your King Alas that Christian's guilty are of that Which Turks and Pagans are amazed at Ah Bloody day how vile thou dost appear Why art thou in the Number of the Year To be a Blot upon the Christians name And to this Land an Everlasting shame O Lord forgive this great iniquitie And let this day a day of Sorrow be A day of Mourning for so great a Crime To after Ages till the end of Time For the 29th of May. THis is the Joyfull Birth and Restoration Of our dread Prince the Monarch of this Nation This day Lord Monk with many Nobles more Did all repair to welcome Him on shore Great Multitudes to see the KING this day Were more than thousand 's standing by the way Throughout this Land who could not but admire The Hills and Mountains all were set on fire The Trumpets sound the Bells most sweetly Ring The People shout and cry God save the KING Harmon'ous instruments of Musick sweet Melodiously were heard in every Street A day of so great Triumph and of Fame The tongue of man can ne're declare the same And now the King enjoyes his own again God grant him long in Health Wealth to Raign HAst from the Press my Muse salute the spring Chant forth thy Anthems make the vallies Ring Sing like a Siren that all comers near thee They may be ravish'd and amaz'd to hear thee Fly thou my little Bird to every Town And see thou put all Wanton Singers down With thy sweet voice where ever thou shalt com They may be silent and for ever dum Seek thou no rest but fly a thousand waies In every Corner sing Jehovah's praise Then all will say that sit to here thee sing Thou art the sweetest Bird of all the spring FINIS
THE History of JOSEPH OR A DIVINE POEM UPON Joseph and his Brethren FROM The 37th of Genesis to the end Written exactly according to each Chapter to which is Added a few other Poems The like never before By John Smith Who is a lover and sometimes Takes great delight in reading Rhimes Yea Quarles and Sandys he adore Their noble works and many more Yet is not worthy to undoe The Latchet of a Poets Shooe Glory to God in th' highest Heaven still Peace upon Earth and towards mee good will Luk. 2. 14. Good Christians let it be your chief delight To sing the praise of God both day and night Let this be Printed in each faithful heart To joyn in Consort with me and bear part London Printed by T. M. for W. Thackeray at the Angel in Duck-Lane 1677. Licensed December 17th 1676. Roger L'Estrange TO HIS Worthy Mistriss Mrs. SVSAN JVCKES Living in Brickington-Court in Coleman Street London Wishing her all Happiness in this World and Eternal Felicity in the World to come through Jesus Christ our Lord. Worthy Mistriss TO You I do present This little Book hoping 't will you content Accept I pray you of these feeble Rimes They are th' Fruits Sooth of my leasure times But if they should in the least you offend I shall repent that ever they were Pen'd Because you are my Mistriss and I see You have been more a Mother unto me And like a Son you alwayes do me foster Though I your Prentice yet live like a Master If Joseph's Mistris she had been so true Nay had she been but half so good as You Then Joseph he had never suffer'd wrong Nor never had been cast in Prison strong But he a wanton Mistriss had we see Though he deserv'd a better far than me Now though I am unfit to sing your Praise I 'le Honour and Respect you all my dayes Though not in outward shew as other do I am your faithful Servant just and true And for your Health Prosperity and Peace My Prayers t'God for You shall never cease That you may never want yet allwayes giving Till you shall cease to be among the Living And when the Lord shall call you hence away You may depart into Eternal Joy Among whole Quires of Angels for to sing sweet Hallelujahs to your Heavenly King Now God preserve you whilst you live on Earth I am your humble Servant untill Death JOHN SMITH January 20. 1675. THE PROPOSITION NOw Courteous Reader who so e'r thou be That Read those Lines judg not amiss of me Think not I turn Gods Word into a Song To be profan'd by every idle Tongue No wanton Songs amongst us are too Rife I charge thee touch it not upon thy Life Except it be to Sing the Praise and Glory Of dread Jehovah 'T is no idle Story I Sing the Praises of the Lord of Might Who dwells for ever in excessive Light Whose handy Work the Heavens do declare His Works his Glorious Works of Wonders rare The Sun and Moon His Glory do present And th'twinkling Stars throughout the Firmament Which Light he gives to us the Sons of Men How far more glorious is his Glory then I Sing his Praise who did Advance we see His Servant Joseph to a High Degree Who by his Wisdom gave to him such Skill Dreams to Interpret and declare his Will I Sing his Praise who by his mighty Hand did after bring great Plagues on Egypt Land For to Redeem his People Israel Who did in Bondage and in Slavery dwell I Sing the Praises of the highest God Who shew'd such Wonders great by Moses Rod Who with a Stroke the Red-Sea did divide the Waters stood like Walls upon each side All Israel marched through upon dry Ground But all th' Egyptians in the midst were drown'd And brought them to their Promis'd Land to dwell Who forty Years against him did Rebell Although our Sins grow daily more and more The Lord our God hath Mercies still in store Lord what is Man that thou shouldst prove so kind What is the Son of Man thou dost him mind I Sing his Praise whose Power caus'd the Sun To stand for Joshua the Son of Nun Thereby his Peoples Foes he might destroy Gave him a long and Victorious Day I Sing his Praise who gave such strength might To Sampson who a thousand Men did smite He slew them all his Strength did so surpass With nothing but the Jaw-bone of an Ass I Sing his Praise who gave such Courage hold To David when his Peoples Hearts grew cold T' slay their Enemy though a Stripling That great Goliah with a silly Sling O how his Wonders great do spread his Fame Great is the Lord Jehovah is his Name O Let us Sing his Praises great and small Who gave himself a Ransom for us All Who did upon him take our Humane Birth And came and dwelt amangst us on the Earth Who Cast out Devils and Cur'd the Leprosie And made the Lame to VValk the Blind to See And Rais'd the Dead and did Restore again The Sick to Health and did Release their Pain And then his precious Blood did freely give And suffer'd Death that we thereby might live Lord I am far unfit to Sing thy Praise I am the Chiefest of Sinners all my Dayes Pardon my Sins for my Redeemers Sake Who in six Dayes the Heaven Earth did make Who in a Moment can the same destroy O make me fit for thy Eternal Joy O thou who art Creator of all things Teach me to sing thy Praise thou King of Kings But rather than I should offend thy Will Silence my Tongue O Lord and stay my Quill Because I can no way withstand thine Ire I know thou art Lord a consuming Fire How wonderful are all thy Works O Lord Thy Goodness and thy Riches doth afford Great plenty of thy Creatures many-folde To us as have been ever still of Old O who will not Gods holy Name Adore Who by his Power Rules for ever more His Eyes behold the Nations Ever seeing In Him we Live and Move and have our Being Who dare Exalt himself against the Lord Who dare Rebell against his Holy Word If any Love Him not upon the Earth Woe Woe to them They are accurst to Death I 'le not Exalt my self above all other To think my self more Righteous than another I will in no case plead the Pharisee But the poor Publican I 'le rather be For let us serve the Lord with all our care Vnprofitable Servants still we are Many there are that make an outward show But those that fear thy Name Lord thou dost know Some are of this Chrch other-some are not Some are of that Church some I know not what But very few there are of thine I fear Thy Church is scatter'd Lord I know not where Make hast O Lord bring thy true Church together And then direct me that I may go thither For in this World I have not long to stay Yet
from that time he did him Ruler make God blest what e're he had for Joseph's sake He blest his house with great Content and Peace And blest his field also with great Increase And now all things are left to Joseph's hand He takes account of nothing to Command Saving the bread which he alone did eat Nothing he doth regard except his meat Now Joseph's Comely yet will not be led To ill temptations though well-favoured Though he hath Pleasure and Content his fill And may lye with his Mistriss if he will No Joseph he doth love and fear the Lord And therefore such great wickednesse abhor'd But yet his Mistris casts her wanton Eye On him desiring him with her to Lye But Joseph he his Mistriss did refuse And did intreat her that she would excuse Him saying thus You well do understand My Master hath put all things in my hand There 's none in all his house so great as I Nothing at all that he doth me deny Of all he hath that doth belong to Life But only thee because thou art his Wife How can I do this wickednesse quoth he And sin against my God it must not be Yet day by day she sought to have her will But he withstands her and denies her still Then on a certain day when Joseph went Into the house where he did much frequent She came to him seeing that none was by And Caught him by the Garment saying Lye With me but Joseph soon did her withstand And fled and left his Garment in her hand And got him out but when that he was gone She call'd some other of her house anon And said the Ebrew servant he hath brought Came in to mock me and with me he sought To Lye but when I lift my voice and Cry'd He fled away because I him deny'd And here his Garment he hath left with me But when my Lord comes he the same shall see So when her Lord came home thus she did say Thy Ebrew servant mocked me to day He came to Sleep with me but when I Cry'd He fled a way because I him deny'd He fled and left his Garment here with me I laid it up my Lord for you to see Now when her Lord this thing did understand His wrath was kindl'd and he did Command That Joseph should be Cast in Prison strong His righteous servant now must suffer wrong But God's with Joseph loves his meek behaviour And in the Prison he hath got him Favour The keeper of the Prison thinks it fit All things to Joseph's hand he doth commit He sees that all things prospers in his hand He looks to nothing Joseph bears Command Now those that love and fear the Lord we see Finds Grace and Mercy still where e're they be CHAP. III. Being the xl of Genesis The Argument King Pharaohs servants prison'd are And Joseph he their Dreams declare But doth acknowledge 't is the Lord That doth such light to him afford The Buttler doth ungratefull prove Forgetteth Joseph's former Love A Little after this it Came to pass King Pharaoh's Butler and Chief Baker was For some offence which to the King was done They both were cast in Prison thereupon Into the Prison now where Joseph was And he the Charge and keeping of them has Now in one night they both of them did Dream And in the Morning troubl'd were extream Joseph perceiv'd it and to them did say Why are ye now so sad my Friends to day We both have dream'd said they troubl'd are Because we know here 's no interpreter Interpretations are of God said he Then say not so but tell your Dreams to me So then the Butler did to Joseph tell His dream and said to me it thus befell I saw a Vine before me in full growth And in the Vine three Branches budding forth They budded forth the Blossoms did appear Next came the Grapes quickly ripe they were And in my hand I had King Pharaoh's Cup I took and wrung the Grapes and fill'd it up And then as far as I could understand I did deliver th' Cup to Pharaoh's hand This is th' Interpretations Joseph sayes The Branches that thou sawest are three dayes For by that time King Pharaoh shall restore Thee to thy place that thou wert in before And thou shalt also bear the same Command To take and give his Cup into his hand But have me in rememberance with thee When thou shalt come in thy Prosperity And mention me to Pharaoh now I pray That I in Prison may no longer stay I am an Ebrew stolen away by theft Out of my Native Land and here am left To suffer and yet I have done no wrong To any yet am cast in Prison strong Now when the Baker saw and understood What Joseph told the Butler seemed good He said unto him Joseph now I see Thy saying's good interpret now for me I dream'd I had three Baskets on my head In one bak'd Meat the Birds about me fled Out of the uppermost they all did eat It being full of Pharaoh's dainty Meat Then to the Baker Joseph he did say Thy baskets likewise each of them 's a day For in three dayes King Pharaoh thou shalt see Will cause thee to be Hanged on a Tree And then the birdes will come thy Flesh to eat And fly about thee as they did thy Meat So three dayes after Pharaoh made a feast The Butler and the Baker were releast The Butler did his butler ship Command To give the Cup again to Pharaoh's hand The Baker he was hang'd upon a tree What Joseph said did come to pass we see But now the Butler he remember'd not His old friend Joseph but hath him forgot CHAP. IV. Being the xli of Genesis The Argument King Pharaoh's dreams torment his mind Till an Expounder he can find The Butler Joseph doth Commend To Pharaoh who doth for him send Joseph makes known his dreams and he Advanced is to high degree BUt stay shall righteous Joseph still remain A Pris'ner never to come out again No though the Butler he remember'd not The Lord his God he hath not him forgot But two years after by his Mighty hand The King of Egypt then he did Command That he his righteous Joseph should deliver For loe he dream'd that he stood by a River And seven Fat Kine did to him appear Out of th' River as he was standing there And in a pleasant Meddow they did feed But after seven Lean ones did proceed And as the fat kine in the Meddow fed They by the lean ones were devoured Yet to his sight so vile they did appear They still more ugly and ill-favour'd were Upon this dream King Pharaoh did awake But fell a sleep again his rest to take And dream'd the second time before 't was Morn And in his dream saw seven Ears of Corn Which sprung and grew upon one stalk so rare No Ears of Corn were ever seen so fair And after them there sprung up
a Maze Behold said he I now do understand That there is Corn enough in Egypt Land Then get you down to Egypt go and buy A little food from thence we may not dye So Joseph's breth'ren they did haste away But Benjamin doth with his father stay For Jacob said least mischief him befall And he be lost I am bereft of all So Jacob's sons to Egypt came at last Before the governor they all did hast And in his presence are admitted now And to the earth before him they did bow Now Joseph knew his bretheren said From whence come you which made 'em fore afraid Because he roughly spoke and seem'd so strange As though his countenance did somthing change Now they their brother Joseph hath forgot Although he knows them yet they know him not We came from Canaan Sir they did reply We hither come a little food to buy Joseph remember'd now his Dreams and said You sure are come as Spies I am afraid But they said Nay my Lord thy servant 's come To buy us food the famines sore at home We all are one mans sons they thus replyes Thy servants are true men we are no Spyes But Joseph said do I not understand You come as spyes to see our naked Land But they said Nay we all are Bretheren We are no spyes my Lord we are true men All of our Father lawfully begot The youngest is with him but one is not Then Joseph said I take you now for spyes Because I think these stories you devise By th' life of Pharaoh you shall not go hence For with your speeches I cannot dispence Untill that brother come that I may know If there be any truth in you or no Then send for him and let the truth appear Or else you shall remain as prisoners here So then he put them in ward all three dayes But on the third day thus to them he sayes This do and live for I do fear the Lord Therefore this liberty I l'e you afford Go carry Food for all you have at home But bring your younger brother when you come And one of you shall here in prison stay But go the rest with food and hast away So then they fell to reason with each other And said we sure are guilty of our brother When he besought and craved Mercy on us But we refus'd now evils come upon us Then Reuben said to save him I desir'd But you would not and now his blood 's requir'd And now they thought none understood them for Joseph he spake by an interpreter So then he turn'd aside from them to weep But yet his brother Simeon he will keep And caus'd him to be bound before their eyes That they may see he takes them still for spyes And then his Servants did Command that they Should fill their sacks with Corn they might away And give them victuals that they might not lack And put their mony-bags into each sack So this they did and they departed thence To take their Journey now they did Commence And when they came at length into their Inn To give their Asses Corn they did begin And lo when one he had his sack unty'd his bag of money there he soon espy'd Behold my money 's in my sack he said But when they saw it they were all afraid And said unto each other thereupon O what is this the Lord to us hath done And now with speed they hasted home to tell Their Father how all things to them befell The man said they that 's Lord of Egypt Land Took us for spies and there he did Command That we should be imprison'd for said he You all are spies and come our Land to see But we said nay we were twelve bretheren All one mans sons and all of us true men And one is not the other is this day With our Father So then he thus did say If you be true men you shall here with me A brother leave that I the truth may see And go you carry food for all at home But bring yourbrother with you when you come Then I shall see if you are just and true And will restore your brother unto you So I the truth of you may understand You then said he shall traffick in our Land So now they fell a empting of their food And saw their money and amaz'd they stood Wondering at it and were sore dismaid Their father likewise he was sore afraid And thus he said b'ing troubl'd at their news You Rob me of my sons and me abuse Joseph is not and Simeon's gone I see And you 'l take Benjamin O wo is me Then Reuben to his Father thus did say Suffer the Lad to go with us I pray Take my two sons and cause them to be slain If I bring not the Lad to thee again But Jacob said my Son shall never go He nere shall part from me for ought I know O leave my Benjamin my life to save Bring not my Gray head Mourning to the grave CHAP VI. Being the xliii of Genesis The Argument Jacob for want of food complaine To Egypt sends his Sons again But is opprest and full of we For grief that Benjamin must go So they 〈◊〉 Present with them take And Joseph much of them doth make NOw in the Land the famine still was great The food they brought from Egypt's almost eat Then Jacob said our food now groweth scant Go buy agaâ—â— my Sons we may not want Judah made answer to his Father now And said the man most solemnly did vow Saying you â—ere shall in my presence come Except you bring your brother that 's at home Then let the Lad go with us now said he Or else we never more his face shall see But if thou wilt not then it is in vain And we must never think to go again Then Jacob said Why did you let him know You had a brother Why would you do so Because said they he every thing enquir'd That we were forc't to tell what he desir'd For thus he said Have you no other brother D' your Father live and one thing or an other We answer'd him as you may apprehend To all yet knew not what would be the end Could we know certainly or any other That he would say unto us bring your brother Then Judah he with this importune great Said Suffer him to go I thee intreat That we may go a little food to buy We may not perish here for want and dye I will be surety what canst thou desire That of my hands thou mayest him require And if I bring him not to thee I 'le never Attempt thy presence but be blam'd for ever Then lets not tarry knowing 't is in vain For by this time we might have come again Then said their father if he needs must go Hard is the case but if it must be so Then take a Present with you for the man The best fruits in your vessels now you can Mirrh Nuts and
at his Command He did possess it and did multiply And grew and did encrease exceedingly And Jacob seventeen Years there did dwell Most sumptuously in Riches did excel So that the Age of Jacob doth appear To be an hundr'd fourty seven Year Now vvhen the time drew near that he should Die He Call'd his Son to him and said If I Have in thy sight found Grace let me command That thou wilt put under my Thigh thy Hand Let me my Son thy Truth Rely upon Lay me not here vvhen I am Dead and gone But vvhen I Die then vvith my Fathers all Bury me vvith them in their Burial And Joseph answer'd him and said I will Perform my Duty thy mind to fullfil But Isr'el said to Joseph Swear my Son Thou vvilt perform my Will So thereupon Joseph did Swear And Isr'el Worshipped And bow'd himself to him upon the Bed CHAP. XI Being the lxviii of Genesis The Argument Joseph takes his Sons and He His sick Father goes to see Jacob each of them doth Bless Tells him of their good Success Prophesie the promis'd Land Will be Restor'd by th' Almighty's Hand NOw after this to Joseph speedily One came said thy Father 's like to Die So Joseph hasted and he took with him His two Sons Manasseh and Ephraim And also one told Jacob thus and said Joseph is come to thee be not dismai'd Then Isr'el when he had recover'd Strength Got up and sate upon his Bed at length And said to Joseph hear my Son I pray What I shall speak to thee and what I say The Lord Almighty did to me appear At Luz in Canan and did Bless me there And afterwards thus unto me he spake And said Behold I will thee fruitful make I will thy People multiply said he And I will make a Number great of thee I 'le give to thee and to thy Seed therefore This Land they shall possess for evermore And now thy Sons which here are Born to thee In Egypt thou shalt give them both to me As Reuben and as Simeon they are mine But all thy Issue after shall be thine Now vvhen I came from Padan in the Land Of Canan Rachel Dy'd upon my hand When I from Ephrah vvanted half a day And there I did her Bury by the way Then Isr'el Joseph's Sons did there espie He lookt on them as they were standing by And asked Joseph saying Whose are these And Joseph said my Sons vvhom God doth please To spare alive His blessings I may see They are my Sons whom God hath given me Then Isr'el said before thou take them hence Let me my Blessing on them both dispence Now Israel with sickness he did Sage His sight did fail by Reason of his Age Then Joseph brought them him and for a space He there did Kiss them and did them Embrace And then he said to Joseph I ne'r thought To see thy Face but God to pass hath brought That he hath also shewed my thy Seed The Lord our God is Merciful indeed Then Joseph from his Fathers Knees did take His Sons and did Obeisance to him make And Ephraim then he took in his Right hand Towards his Fathers Left as he did stand And also took Manasseh in his Left Next Isr'el's Right hand not to be bereft Nor misse his Right-hand Blessing thus he thought Then to his Father both of them he brought But Isr'el his Right Hand he did Convey And upon Ephraims Head he did it Lay And laid his Left Hand then upon the other Upon Manasseh's Head The Elder Brother And Blessed Joseph saying God before Whom all my Fathers Walk't and did Adore Whom Abraham and Isaac did obey And he that hath preserv'd me to this day The Angel which Redeem'd me from all ill Now Bless the Lad's and let my Name be still On them and let my Father's Names also Be upon them and also let them grow Unto a Multitude so great by Birth Their dwelling in the mid'st of all the Earth But now when Joseph saw on Ephraim His Father 's Right hand it displeased him And sought for to remove it thence upon Manasses Head which was the Eldest Son And Joseph to his Father thus did say This is the first-Born move thy hand I pray But Isr'el he refus'd and said I know It is my Son yet I will not do so Of him I know a People great shall be But Ephrahim shall be greater far than he So thus he did them bless upon that day And said In thee Isr'ael shall bless and say The Lord make thee as great as Ephraim Before Mannasseh thus preferred him Then Isr'el said to Joseph I shall die But God is with you and will not deny His gracious Promise but his mighty hand shall bring you hence unto your Fathers Land And I a blessing more hath given thee Then all thy Brethren now which living be That I took from the Amorite my Foe I got it vvith my Sword and vvith my Bow CHAP. XII Being the xlix of Genesis The Argument Jacob his Sons to him doth Call Pronounce his Blessings on them all And giveth them a strict Command To Bury him in 's Native Land Where all his Father 's they do Lie So makes a Blessed end and Die NOw Jacob Call'd his Sons and thus did say Gather your selves together now I pray That I may now unfold to you he sayes What shall befall you in the latter dayes Gather your selves together I may tell Come near and hear your Father Israel RUben my Eldest Son my Chief Delight The first beginning of my Strength and might The Excellency of high Dignitie And of Power do both belong to thee But now thou art as unstable as Water And thou shalt not be excellent hereater Because thou did'st defile thy Fathers bed Thy Power and Dignity is from thee fled Thou did'st defile my Couch and thereupon Thy Honour and thy Dignity is gone SImeon and Levy Bretheren in Ill The Instruments of Cruelty are still Within their Habitations I do fear O thou my Soul their Secrets come not near Nor let my Honour now with them be Joyn'd With their Assembly be not thou Confin'd For in their griev'ous VVrath a Man they Slew And b'ing self-will'd a VVall they overthrew O Cursed be their VVrath for it vvas fierce Their Cruelty too cruel to express Wherefore in Jacob I vvill them divide And scatter them in Israel so vvide BUt Judah all thy Brethren thee shall praise And shall be subject to thee all their dayes Upon thy En'mies Neck thy hand shall be Thy Fathers Sons shall all bovv dovvn to thee And as a Lyon shall come from the Spoyle My Son he shall lie down and Couch a vvhile And as a Lyonness shall so remain And vvho shall dare to stir him up again The Scepter shall not part from Judah's home Nor a Lavv-giver until Shiloh Come To him all People shall be gathered His People vvhich throughout the Earth are spread He shall his
Asse-Fole bind unto the Vine And vvash his Garments in the Choysest Wine His Eyes vvith Wine they likewise shall be red His Teeth vvith Milk they shall be vvhitened ZEbulun he by the Sea-side shall dwell His Haven for Rich Shipping shall excell And flourishing so splendidly in order Quite unto Zidon there shall be his border ISsachar he as a strong Asse shall be Couching between two burdens shall see That Rest is good to him and that the Land Is good and pleasant he shall understand And he to bear his shoulder he shall bow And shall be subject Tribute to allow DAn he shall Judge his People and excel In Honour like a Tribe of Israel Dan he shall be a Serpent by the vvay An Adder by the Path vvhich in the day To bite the Horse-heeles subtily shall Craul To make him stumble and his Rider fall Then Jacob vvith this heavenly Salutation Cri'd out O Lord I vvait for thy Salvation GAd he an Host of men shall lay him vvast But he shall overcome them at the last ASher he shall abound in every thing And shall have Pleasure that befits a King NAphtali shall be let loose as a Hinde And giving fair and goodly words most kind JOseph he shall be like a fruitful Bough Which by a well's side fruitfully doth grow His tender Boughs and pleasant Branches all Shall grow and spread and run upon the wall The Archers grieved him and at him shot And though they hated him they hit him not But still his bow and hands in strength abode His Armes were strengthen'd by the mighty God Of whom is the chief Stone of Israel That Rich and precious stone that doth excel Ev'en by thy Father's God who will thee love And will thee bless with blessings from above With blessings here beneath that are to Come VVith blessings of the Breasts of the VVomb The blessings of thy Father hath not fail'd But far above his Elders hath prevail'd To th' utmost bounds of th' everlasting Hills On Joseph's Head they him with honour fills Upon the Head of him he that was hated He that was from his Breth'ren separated BEnjamin he shall Ravine in the day And in the Morning shall devour the Prey Like to a fierce Wolfe he at Eventide The spoile which he hath taken shall divide ALL these are the twelve Tribes of Israel And this is that their Father did them tell With sev'ral Blessings each of them did bless And afterwards thus to them did express I now am ready to be Gathered Unto my People now when I am Dead Bury me with my Fathers in the Cave In Ephrons Field the Hittite make my Grave VVhich is before Mamre in Canan Land Abr'ham he bought the same of Ephron's hand He and his Wife they both were buri'd there There Isaac and Rebeckah buri'd were And there I buri'd Leah after Death The Field was Purchas'd of the Seed of Heth. Thus Jacob made an end of giving charge Unto his Sons his mind hath spoke at large And then submitting to the Lord of Host Pluck't up his Feet and yeilded up the Ghost CHAP. XIV Being L. of Genesis The Argument Now Joseph he doth with great Care His Father's Funeral prepare Interrs him in his Native Land As Israel did him Command So he and all the Royal Train Returns to Egypt back again THen Joseph fell upon his Fathers Face And Wept and his dead Corpes he did Embrace And the Physitians that with him did dwell They did imbalm his Father Israel When Fourty dayes of Mourning were perform'd So long they Mourn'd for them that were Imbalm'd But th' Egyptians they did him bewail Seventy Days their Mourning did not fail And when the days of Mourning all were past Joseph he spake to Pharoah's House at last And said If I have Favour found I pray Speak in the Ears of Pharoah now and say My Father he did make me to him Swear To bear him hence and not to lay him here But in his Grave which is in Canaan Land To lay him there he gave a great Command And therefore let me now intreat of thee That this his will may be fullfill'd by me Then Pharoah said go and not lay him here Perform thy Oath as he did make thee Swear So Joseph with great diligence and care A stately Funeral he did prepare And with him went the Chief of all the Land All Pharoah's house they were at his Command Likewise his own house and his Bretheren And all his Fathers house went with him then Only the Children small it was his mind Their Sheep and Cattel such to leave behind Chariots he took and Horsemen sumptuously VVith him went an exceeding Company Now when they came to Atads threshing floor VVhich is beyond Jordan they Mourned sore VVith grievous Lamentation there they stays And Mourned for his Father seven dayes And when the Canaanites of all the Land Their Mourning saw amaz'd they all did stand And afterwards 't was call'd throughout their Nation Th' Egyptians place of grievous Lamentation So thus his sons as he did them Command VVith care interr'd him in his Native Land And Joseph he returned back again To Egypt he and all the Royal Train Now when his breth'ren saw their father dead They were afraid and sorely troubled And said it may be Joseph will us hate Now our Father 's dead hard is our fate Our former trespass he 'l remember still And Justly may requite us now with ill Therefore they sent to Joseph and did say Pardon our former trespasse now we pray It 't was our father's will while he did live The Sin we did Commit thou should'st forgive Let not thy heart against us now be hardn'd But let that sin we did commit be pardon'd This meek request made Joseph's heart relent He wept and said be you not discontent Then all his breth'ren fell upon their knee To him and said Lo we thy Servants be And Joseph said am I not under God Do I not know that Vengeance hath a rod When you thought ill God turn'd the same to good To save your lives you since have understood Fear not now therefore I will nourish you Your Wives and Children as I ought to do Thus he did Comfort them and told his mind And Spake to them most Lovingly and Kind Now Joseph he in Egypt still did dwell His Fathers house likewise there lived well And Joseph Ephrâ—ims Sons he there did see His Childrens Children to the third Degree Likewise the Sons Sons of Manasseh were Brought unto Joseph's knees as doth appear Then Joseph said unto his Bretheren I now shall die and God will surely then Visit you And will by his mighty hand Bring you from hence unto your promis'd land Which he t' Abraham and to Isaac sware And unto Jacob that he would prepare And Joseph made them swear and said this do My Bretheren When God shall visit you Carry my bones with you do not dispence With them in Egypt bear them