ODES AND ELOGIES UPON Divine Moral SUBJECTS LONDON Printed for Henry Bonwicke at the Red-Lion in St. Paul's Church-yard 1698. ODES The Priest I. WHence is 't my Muse that thou appear'st so fair Exalted both in Garb and Air Not only Verdant are thy Bayes But round thy Head they dart unwonted Rayes Muse Did not great Wor'ster learn td Ely late Their matchless Works to thee communicate Make them frequent thy unfrequented Gate And that my Laurel Springs dost thou admire Enough my Muse th' ast Reason to aspire Strain to a higher Key thy Strings And Sing henceforth of Sacred Things Odes and Elogies essay divine The Priest to these thou'lt rightly joyn The Priest too let thy Layes adorn The Priest so much the Ages Scorn II. GOd with his Voice did once his Laws proclaim In Thunders Earthquakes and in Fire Lest if Mens Hearts he only did inspire And they no Outward Object saw They shou'd deny him Author of his Law And take him for an empty Name But the Conviction was so full of Dread While Men beheld that God did live themselves were well-nigh dead Their sinful Nature they confest too weak To bear his Presence or to hear him speak III. HIs Mercy for this Cause made choice Of Men to be unto the World his Voice Not that all Men should claim this Grace No not the Blemish'd even of Aaron's Race Less the prophane and vile by Trade 'T is true that he did call Elisha from the Plow and Amos from the Oxes Stall And Fishermen Apostles made But then his Call advanc'd their State As Men from Earth Wise men from Idiots did create These to the World at first did Preach God inspir'd what they did teach Says he Solicitous be not what to say It shall be given you in that day IV. BUt when our Lord to Heav'n had shew'd the Way And none but the Perverse cou'd stray Of such Almighty Aid there was not need It was enough the Rule to weigh as well as read Together with a pious Heart Study to use and humane Art Industry to undergo And learned Languages to know The which the Spirit does befriend Tho' it o'er-bears not Men unto the End V. IN these Phanatick and Atheistick Days Heav'n enough we ne'er can praise When Botchers Coblers from the Stall Their Itch to Preach do term a Call And those a God deny believe no Priest at all That yet the Holy Order we enjoy Debased by no late Alloy Learn'd Apostolick and pure That fiery Trials can endure And Truth 'gainst Hell it self secure VI. MY Muse thy Lyre is faint and weak One Stillingfleet alone to speak His Rev'rend Aspect Gracious Life to draw Answ'ring both Gospel and Levitic Law Who Singly dares all Hereticks engage Their Strength their Rudeness and their Rage Hower fam'd in ours or any former Age. When ancient Errors they disguise Or New devise He does detect them with his piercing Eyes The Reason shew they so much vaunt Is miserable Sophistry and Cant Their Doublings Sculkings can descry Dodging 'tween Gibb'rish and Philosophy Their Scoptic and Elaborate Shifts expound Be the grave Nonsense never so profound If to Antiquity or Tongues they fly They find that there He 's Conversant and they but Strangers are VII THe solid Truth when heretofore Such Triflers cou'd not shake The Good Man they their Sport did make With Flourishes of Wit insulted o're Hobbs tho' subtil in Dispute His Talent was to baffle not confute And when he made a lucky Jest His Follow'rs thought he had the Best But here together with the Truth they see Language and Wit tho' both neglected be So strong so beautiful and high What they their Business make is far below his Bye That here their Petulance so ill they place They throw but Dirt upon a lovely Face Which them does bruitish shew but it no way disgrace Psal. lxxvii 7. Will the Lord cast off for ever Will he be favourable no more Written before the Peace I. WHen Men thro' high Presumption disobey Not by mistake but knowing go astray What wonder is it if they Danger meet As Cattle led not by their Head but Feet And like to them become a Prey What wonder is it when they cry And when Afflictions them oppress That God is Deaf to their Distress And does all Help to them deny They cry not from their Sense of Sin But from the Durance they are in Deliverance if they cou'd obtain And in beloved Sins remain Midst Threats of Hell their present Ease they 'd hold a Gain For present Ease is all their Care This their Devotion warms 't is this enflames their Pray'r II. IN these our Days Loud are the Plaints we here 'T is now no less than the Ninth Year That Wars amaze Th' Accounts brought to us from abroad However Various Evils all record Allies are false and sep'rate Leagues renew France only and the Port between themselves are true Plantations late are lost our Merchants tan'e Thousands by Famine Sieges Earthquakes slain Forts are betray'd Towns storm'd ras'd plunder'd or in Ashes lay'd Even at this Distance Bombs we seem to hear And Seas tho interpos'd secure us not from fear And in these Mis'rys having long been tos't 'T is say'd Our hop'd for Peace at last is crost Ungrateful Men confess Our Evils than our Sins are less And Providence adore Upon this very Score However they are near We do not see and feel them tho we hear That in Gazetts they only have a Place Of Slaughters when we read None in our Streets do bleed And Bombs and Cannon flash not in our Face III. THeir Suff'rings those compute but not their Sin Long it would be before these Men confess That more than twice Nine Years th 'ave lived in Prophaness Whoredom and in Drunkenness That Means they never us'd Lust to subdue Ne'er car'd to pay to God or Man their Due Or thought the Nations Happiness the less When most Enormous Crimes did it oppress But if the Foe at any time prevail'd To murmur and complain they never fail'd If Vengeance with our Sins kep't equal Pace Deplorable in truth wou'd be our Case For yet no Age did ever see Vices improv'd to such Degree He that was lately Lew'd essays To justify his wicked Ways By Blasphemy Our Libertines are Vnitarians grown Themselves to be Socinians Deists own I doubt to call what 's ugly Paints Yet these Pretences are but Feints For Atheism is the real End To which these Vizor-Names do tend IV. THe Foe of God and Man does now despise By sly Delusions to subvert a few Here and there to gain a Prize To Tempt he holds below his Fame It answers not his Mighty Aim Which is Religion Truth and all that 's Holy to subdue God's Throne in Heav'n he did attack in vain But that on Earth he doubts not to obtain And with these Hopes his Grandees does excite To Piqueroon no more As mean and poor But 'gainst the strongest Forts
Thus the Guests themselves did please But Boaz Soul aloft did soar A Divine Rapture him did seize And to Celestial Regions bore Where he did behold In sacred Leaves enrol'd His Offspring shou'd a Scepter sway All Iudah his and Ruth's Posterity obey And in dark Clouds tho more involv'd Yet Greater things This Wonder of all Wonders Heav'n resolv'd From them shoud come the Lord of Lords and King of Kings V. THe Fleeting of his Soul to hide Frolick he bid his Guests abide With Thanks they told him he might spare To have of them a further Care After so long enjoying such voluptuous Fare The Day was spent And with a joint Consent To leave the Board all signs did give Thither they came to Feast but not to Live Tho all delicious were and nought did cloy Men in long time grow weary even of Joy Boaz was glad to see his Guests well pleas'd And of his Care not sorry to be eas'd That what imported more he might pursue Consider'd yet if ought from him was due Then from his Princely overflowing store Large Gifts he sent unto the absent Poor That which Religion did begin the Meal He careful was with Charity and holy Hymns to â—eal VI. TO Ruth he did declare that Night His love and high esteem And his Faith to her did plight In case her nearer Kinsman wav'd his Right Her and her Heritage he wou'd redeem Which falling out to his desire His heart supprest a scorching Fire Till he his Purpose did relate Before the Judges sitting in the Gate Which heard with One united Voice They all approv'd and blest his Choice For unto them 't was not unknown That she despis'd the Gods of Wood and Stone Her Parents Country all did leave To th' God of Israel tho with wants to cleave It added also much unto her Fame Lovers both Youâ—g and Rich she did disclaim And chose with Boaz to engage An Elder as in Honour now also one in Age They pray'd like Leah she might fruitful prove Powerful as Rachel to excite his Love Before the Year its Course had run All Vows were hear'd And joyful Naomi in her Bosom rear'd A darling and much pray'd for Son On David and Goliah I. MArshall'd and drawn-up in array The Host of Israel and Philistia stood An ample Plain between them lay Design'd the present Stage of Blood From the Uncircumcis'd a Champion came The Earth a Prouder never bore A Squire and Terror usher'd him before Goliah was his Name We do not read He was renown'd for any Warlike deed Nor was there need His vast Dimensions did suffice Without the help of Enterprize To rigester his Fame His Stature did surpass The size of human Race His monst'rous Limbs were clad in Brass Dreadful his Aspect insolent his Pace Between the Camps he stood and thus did cry All that bear Arms in Israel I defy Among your Troops he that 's of greatest Might I Challenge to contest with me in single Fight And let the Vanquish't side serve and obey His whose Victorious Arms shall win the Day But from his Face all fled for fear His Presence without Stroke beat up the Quarters he drew near II. WHile forty Days he thus did signalize His haughty and presumptuous Pride The Host and God of Israel both despise The Boaster more to baffle and deride Divine Wisdom did refuse A Champion from the Camp to chuse But to disgrace as well as to destroy From out the Sheep-folds sent a blushing Boy Who did the Semblance of a Virgin bear So fresh his looks so white his Limbs so flowing was his Hair Thin the Youth was also clad Sword nor Armor had Nor trained was in Military Art A Lamb without but Giant in his Heart When the o'reweaning Foe did on him look To be so scorn'd he cou'd not brook With Rage being ready even to burst His Sword he drew not but his Tongue and curst Then 'gainst his Youth and Weapons thus he raves Am I a Dog thou com'st to me with Staves Or do'st thou hope that I Who dare even Gods defy Will thee vouchsafe the Name of Enemy To be a Prey th' art fitter for a Kite Than with a Man of War like me to fight III. TO his Contempt thus David did reply On thy huge Bulk thou do'st rely Thy massy Spear and Coat of Mail Which nothing yet shall thee avail But thy vain Confidence only show And more inglorious make thy Overthrow Unarm'd to thee I come but in his Might Who Sword nor Shield does use in fight Thy Headless Carcass I will throw To dogs and wolves to pay the Debt thy Blasphemy does ow. Goliah urg'd thus high to combate rose David as prompt before they came to Close His Shepherds Tackling 'gainst him bent There was no doubt of good Event Not only from the Sling but Heaven the Stone was sent Which in his Brain took up its fatal Bed The Giant lowr'd his lofty Head And sell as if asham'd of his Disgrace Prone and grovling on his Face His pond'rous Corps did loud resound As if a Tow'r of Brass had rush't unto the Ground Israel rais d a chearful shout Their Champions death their Foes did rout Who fell by thousands all the Way 'Twixt Ekron Gath and Shaaron lay IV. REturned from the Chace of Blood Before the King and Captains David stood Holding the Head they did so lately fear Which made his beaut'ous Youth more excellent appear And all pronounc'd him worthy with one Voyce Not only of Saul's Promise but his Choyce For where a Son so Glorious cou'd he find Or if not seen have fancy'd in his Mind And there was none did Saul so far engage To hold his Word as Ionathan first Hero of his Age. And Princess Michal by a secret Flame Approv'd the Justice of the Victors Claim Even at this early Day His Air did future Majesty display To which these things did only plain the Way But e'er he lay'd his Sheephook down Assum'd a Scepter and a Crown Greater Prowesse he must show More Goliahs overthrow Envy Malice Jealousy Slanders Snares and Treachery Temptations must with those combine And thro them all a mighty Grace must shine Thus God conducts the noble to their End Davids high Virtue made him Davids Friend Davids Lamentation on the Death of Saul and Ionathan I. GRief and Amazement in my Breast contend To th' highest Part both in this Threne pretend Both say To me pertains the fatal Story Israel has lost her Beauty and her Glory Her high Renown in Arms disgrace't Her Old stupendious Victorys deface't Her King and mighty Men are overthrown Offended God his People and his Host refus'd to own Horror invades me when I say The Strong have cast their Shields away Their Bodys ly upon the Ground Among the Vulgar slain are found As Saul with holy Oyl had ne'er anointed been and Crown'd The Blood of Foes his Sword did always stain And Ionathans from Fight did ne'er return in vain As swift
the son of Man His Deity in his Works to her was clear In 's Life the Heav'n he promis't did appear Upon the Cross as great in her Account As when he was Transfigur'd on the Mount Dominion Wealth for him she does despise The Crowns of Kings are Refuse in her Eyes I. LO here a Glorious Vision did appear Tumultuous Clouds amazing bright Of 't broke with intermingl'd Light Reveal'd a Choire of Angels near Their airy Harps with Sunbeams strung Messiah great in Heaven despis'd on Earth they sung Brisk Zephers held the Trebles place Soft roling Thunders made the Base II. THe substance of their Hymn did say Th' Almighty can no-wise display His Pow'r but Mortals disobey When he reveal'd himself in Wonders In Fire in Earthquakes and in Thunders When Rocks at his Approach did melt A Trump did louder than loud Thunders sound His Voice both Trump and Thunders drown'd And things Inanimate the fragor felt Such Majesty they cou'd not brook No not towards mount Sinai look His Presence bear His Voice too dreadful was for sinful Men to hear III. ANd when again in lowly Guise He 'mong them as a Prophet did arise And Miracles of Mercy wrought Because no Bloody fields he fought Nor captive Kings in fetters led No Prospect their Ambition saw Of Empire but a holy and a hateful Law They him did more despise than dread Tho at his Word the Blind did see And cleansed was the Leprosy The Dead did rise the Lame did walk The Dumb and Deaf both hear and talk The Seas and Winds rebuk't gave way They durst Blaspheme and Disobey IV. DIsdain'd Messiah on the Score They ought him chiefly to adore The Son of God deny'd to be Because he hung upon a Tree Altho when after he was slayn His Pow'r more Mighty did remain All Kingdoms to his Scepter bow Their Wisemen 'bove their own his Wisdom did allow When not only he set free Some few from Satans Tyranny But the whole World by him opprest The World a Demoniac grown he dispossest The Shechinah was glorious here Miracle and Prodigy did both appear Gainst all they saw they stuck not to declare On th' other side their Lusts and Vices were V. A Fiat did the World create But fallen Man to re-estate Did both Grace and Pow'r require To save him 'gainst his own Desire To save him and God's justice save Did the whole System of his Wisdom crave And tho much Goodness did with it abound All was too little found To make a Sinner bliss enjoy And the free Agent not destroy Gratis the lofty Regions he 'd possess Like Stars but not on Terms of Holiness Six days gave Heav'n and all its Host their Birth Th' obdurate Rocks and stubborn Earth But tho six thousand Years are near run-out Men to Obedience are not brought about On the first six Verses of the 63 Chapter of Isaiah Proph. WHat mighty Warrior's this that comes the way Of Edom all stain'd with Blood from Bozrah Whose stately March and Martial garbe proclaim A Hero of immortal Rank and Name Christ. I who in Righteousness destroy and save Give some a Kingdom and to some a Grave Proph. Why art thou soyl'd with Gore thy Garments red Like unto those who in the Wine-press tread Christ. Well thou allud'st the Wine-press I alone Have trod when to assist me there was none A General I am without an Host My Fellow-Soldier none himself can boast Singly the God o' th' World I did engage Singly sustain his and his party's Rage The Blood thou seest which thus my Raiment dies Conquest 's proclaim mysterious Victory 's For never Captain did by Sword and Spear As I by Wounds so high a Trophy rear When cover'd-ore with these I forc't my Way Thro' the Foes guarded Quarters did display My Banner till I broke his whoe Aray First I his Temples and his Pomps defac't Silenc'd his Oracles his Priests disgrac't All Monuments of his Deity eras'd To Daemons Men now sacrifice no more But Execrate what late they did adore Aloft I next my sacred Standard bear Amid'st his Principality the Air His Legions made my Chains like Meteors wear Thence to th' Infernal Regions did descend To the Amazement of the Lordly Fiend And tho' worse Evils than he does partake He cou'd not fear I made his Greatness quake Broke-up his fenced Prison of the Grave The Iron bars and gates a sunder clave Captives brought thence and made the Tyrant see Altho' the rest still slept they all were free The proud Usurper thus I did unthrone Forc't him his Lord unwilling yet to own The Ransom'd World now Alelujahs sing Blessed and Blessing of their Heavenly King From Hell and Satans Bondage all are free But those who choose his Vassals still to be The Christian Slave IT was the Hour that Slaves allowed were 'Bove Ground to breath their wasted Strength repair With mouldy Bread foul Water sted of Wine An aged worthy issu'd from the Mine Grisly and Horrid with six Christians more They sigh'd but without sighs the Hero bore His massy Chain Heav'n for their Fare did bless With larger Thanks and Grace than those express Whose Tables loaded are with all Excess My Brethren said fall-to with chearful Heart More then ten Years I 'ave acted here my Part Whether my Food did nourish or did kill Was not my Care but to perform the Will Of our Great Lord We come not here y' are sure For Health or Good but Torments to endure For sacred Truth such Courage then let 's show May make Idolaters the Diff'rence know Between a God and senseless Stone In vain I have not spent my Days and fruitless Pain But have confirm'd the Weak the Faithful brought To suffer Death by my Endurance taught Fire and Wild-beasts withstand and to contemn Their Persecutors far worse Beast's than them To choose to eat like Dogs upon the Ground A Fare scarce better than the Tables found Than in the Demons stately Temples feast Devils adore and be the Devils Guest The Bloody Guard who all did over-hear Bid him the Food before him to forbear For him they had provided other Cheer Then with a hundred Stripes their Rage did reek Scarce left him Strength to breath and less to speak He smiling said Let not my Suff'rings shake Your Courage Brethren but more Constant make They fail to reach in me their aim'd Effect They have destroy'd but cannot me deject Then turning to the Guard Poor Men sai'd he While to Afflict you hop'd y 'ave set me Free A Period put to all my Misery Whilst you did grudg your scant unwholsome Meat I 'm call'd to a Celestial and Eternal Treat His Pow'rs here sunk not He rather than Die He seem'd to triumph over Cruelty On the general Peace I. IGnoble Peace is often known Worse even than War to make a People Groan But when Usurping Foes they quel A strong invading Pow'r repel Ambitious Neighbours keep in aw Prescribe and not receive