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
as Eagles and as Lions strong Where'er they March Victory went along How are the Mighty in the Battle slain Who shall thy Glory Israel now sustain II. THe Daughters of Philistia will rejoyce In Dances and with Instruments and Voyce Israels Dishonour make their Theme Dagon extol the God of Heaven blaspheme Gilboa the Scene of all our Woe May Corn nor Grass e'er on thee grow Such Blessings may'st thou never know An Off'ring to God's House to pay A Lamb or Sheaf upon his Altar lay The Conflict was not in the Plain In thy High Places Trust was put in vain Israel never felt so heavy a Rod But when she lost the Ark the Symbol of her God Saul and Ionathan in their Lives Lovely and pleasant were in all Mens Eyes Their Death the Land has wounded deep Daughters of Sion mourn and weep In Gold and Scarlet Saul did you array His Reign your Lives made constant Holy-day How are the Mighty in the Battel slain Who shall thy Glory Israel now sustain III. AH my brother Ionathan Generous Prince and more than Man A nobler Soul was never Guest Than thine in any Mortals Breast To me thou yet resigne'st a Throne No less by Virtue than by Birth thy Own The Love for which I unto thee do owe Was wonderful surpast what softest Women know Great for thee is my Distress Thy Loss my Soul does like to Death oppress Utter my Harp some lofty Strain That his Memory may retain But Harp and Hand invoked are in vain The powerful Notes did disenthral From the Evil Spirit rescue Saul Faint and wans Help themselves when they relate thy Fall How are the Mighty in the Battel slain Who shall thy Glory Israel now sustain All Sin is Folly I. OF this no other Proof there needs Then the Confusion which Men find In their recoiling Mind After their Wicked Deeds For the Sin 's no sooner o're But they immediately deplore The loss of Wisdom Virtue Innocence which they possest before The Veil is fallen from the Face Of the bewitching Sin And they disclose involv'd within A Hag and not a Helen in the place That which they loath and disapprove A Cure and not a Cause of Love II. NOr was it God's least Favour to Mankind That first their Guilt themselves shou'd find Their Conscience them upbraid Chastise and make afraid Before the Law their Crimes cou'd reach A sober disabused Mind shou'd them impeach 'T was not the Parable o' th' Poor-mans Lamb Did Davids Soul at first awake These words I 'ave sinn'd within his Heart he spake ' Before that Nathan came Nor was 't the Cock's repeated Crow Made Peter his Transgression know It star'd in 's Face and stood before his Eye While yet he curs'd and did his Lord deny The Horror and Compunction felt within Forestal'd the outward Herald of his Sin III. THo Sin 's a Folly it does not yet denote Things of a small and light Import But such as are of greatest Weight Folly in what concerns our mortal and immortal State 'T is a Defect but 't is no Jest Not what Men laugh at but detest The Flames of Hell are said to yield no Light So Sin tho foolish causes no Delight Absurd and harmless things our Mirth do make They 're Fools themselves pleasure in Mischief take Who o're a Precipice can a blind Man see To step and laugh at the Calamity Be tickl'd at the Sight of such an Evil Must have the Spleen and Malice of a Devil IV. IN a wicked Man's Condition There is not only Error but Perdition Mistake but Death in all Transgression For God he makes his Foe who was his Friend The Bow he for him bent against him bend Those then that by his Goodness are not won It will concern his Vengeance yet to shun Th' Apostle makes this smart Demand To those his Anger dare withstand Are Men than he of greater Power There 's none that think so in their Wits But in Sins raging and over-bearing Fits As if they were they slight him in that Hour Eternal Burning who can bear None possibly And yet in Sin when Men engaged are Whether they can or no they do not care V. FOlly in Sin does ne'er so high abound As when among the Saints 't is found They Sin against a mighty'r Grace Boldly transgress As they confess Before God's Face Astronomers wonder in no mean Degree Dark spots i' th' Body of the Sun to see I' th' Source and Font of Light to find Night and Day together joyn'd The World 's yet seiz'd with more amaze And does as at a Portent gaze When crimes the Righteous stain and spot Their Lives like common Persons blot When such bright Luminarys cease to shine Sully'd to darkness in their Orbs incline Frailty confess who were suppos'd Divine VI. WHen from what 's just the Impious range There falls out nothing that is strange But when a David does from Grace depart Adult'ry and Murder perpetrate A Man that 's after God's own Heart The Truth of Faith the Holy fear In'ts Firmament no greater Prodigie can appear The Salt that shou'd preserve the World does taint Those Sin encourage who shou'd lay restraint Religion does it self receive a Wound Atheists blaspheme upon this Ground The Sin of ev'ry Saint Adams Offence does lively paint For ev'ry Saint's renew'd again Unto God's Image he was created in And if he stood in Adams place He wou'd the stamp again deface A second Time destroy all human Race Quakers I. THo Israels Sins were numberless and great Long time God seem'd not to chastise but threat Ten Murmurings he passed-by When in the Desert they did ly Their Whoredoms and Idolatry His whole Displeasure wou'd not show Endur'd the Golden Calf and those of Dan and Bethel too And in Rebellion when more mad Apostacy to Idols they did add Into his Temple Baalim brought The Heathens worst Abominations wrought His Patience thus tho highly urg'd He did not them destory but scourg'd Deliver'd them into the Hand Of those enslav'd them in a forâ—ign Land But with a Purpose to recal again And that his People still they shou'd remain They found his Oath to Abra'm true As they their Sins his Mercy unto them he did renew II. BUt when most spar'd they most did disobey The Saints of God the Son of God did slay Not only Blood of Prophets spill But the Messiah their Redeemer kill This Act for Pardon left no place Mercy it self in Him they did destory and Grace And wrought not only Deportation Some Weeks of Years of Desolation But the intire Rejection of their Nation His Wrath so long restrain'd God on them lay'd This last Offence for all the former pay'd Into the Place of Abra'ms carnal Seed He made his spiritual Offspring to succeed These only for his People now did know And all the formers Titles Priviledges did on these bestow And when St. Paul does to the Churches write To all Believers he does give the
Name Of Saints it being now their Right Iews to this Title having forfeited their Claim III. BUt this high Honour 's little in the Eyes Of our thrice holy Sectaries Thus to be herded they disdain To march i' th' common Christian Train Those the Apostles holy call they count Prophane Affect a more Supreme degree Saints above the Saints to be And more exc'llent Precepts do they give Than others do they better live Divine Credentials can they show They more than former Ages know Sad Experience answers No. What are then their great Attainments Rude Behaviour uncouth Garments New coyn'd Words distorted Looks Ignorance and contempt of Books To all Government Perversness To Conviction an Aversness To speak the Truth the Faith they do desert Religion all that 's sacred to a Farce convert IV. WHen Iames and Iohn to our Lord their Mother brought To sit at 's right and left Hand him besought They might the Honour in his Kingdom have Says he You know not what it is you crave So we may say to those 'mong us aspire To th' Name of Saints you know not what it is that you desire Can you sustain the Burden you take up Support the Honour which you so usurp The stile of Saint is not a flaunting Name To give a Sect Repute and Fame A Term a Badge but does denote a State Dutys requires of an Heroick Rate The Saints Gods Champions are 'Gainst Hell and Sin they War Temptations Hardships undergo All Dangers Torments Death it self break thro' And as their Calling's higher So from them greater Wisdom all require And if at any time they fall None their Lapse does Frailty call But in their Eyes it does avail As when Natures self does fail And as a Monster 's look't upon by All. V. IF St. Paul's Advice be therefore good Least he fall let him beware Who lately stood Much more it will become their Care To keep their Footing who Exalted are For if a Fall on level Ground A Bone may break or Limb may Wound He that walks upon a Tow'r Had need be circumspect that Hour If Heedless here he be and rash To pieces his whole Body he may dash Those Angels from their Station fell Stopt not till they came to Hell And so An Hypocrite Saint will sink until he can no lower go The Title therefore wave and be the Thing An empty Name to Heaven none e'er did bring That which on Aarons Miter was inscrib'd Holiness to the Lord let none thro' Pride In Capital Letters on his Forehead write But labour to be Holy in his sight While to be Christ's you all declare You do confess that you no Christians are The Sin o' th' Iews and yours comes all to One They took away Christ's life and you allow him none VI. Heriticks in the Days of Old T' oppose some single Truths were bold But Quakers dare 'Gainst Vniversal Faith declare All Christian Doctrines Worship Churches brand Whose sacred Rites Professors Structures stand Besmeer'd with Ordure by their impious Hand Nor Holy Scriptures do they less blaspheme Advancing 'bove them what themselves do dream Subjection to all Magistrates disown Usurp both Pow'r of Parliament and Throne A Sect by Leather Breeches first begun Rude and Seditious silly and course-spun In which for th' highest Place these two do vie Excess of Folly and Impiety Contemn'd by all the Sober Pious Wise. But they by their Numbers fright those who their Cant despise For th' Ecclesiastic and the Civil State Profess'dly are their Grievance and their Hate And cou'd they reach their highest Aim and Vow They wou'd destroy All that they disallow The Muses I. PHoebus his daily Course being run His Rayes of fire Quench't in the Sea or else lay'd by Apollo now and not the Sun The Prince and President of the Muses Quire As on Parnassus he did ly Say'd you to whom I did bequeath My Daphnes ever verdant Wreath Refresh me with your charming Layes Our Votaries record those who adore the Bayes Thalia promptest of the Nine Whose Harp was ever turn'd as ever strung At his Command thus Sung In lofty Numbers and Divine All mortal and immortal Pow'rs All that are great in Heaven and Earth are Ours The God's themselves do higher prize A Hymn than Sacrifice To be extoll'd for doing Good Than have their Altars flow with Sheeps and Oxens Blood II. THe mighty Hero when h' as fought And Conquest his high Wishes glut All Opposition under him has brought On Necks of Kings has set his Foot Whose noble Deeds shine forth so bright His very Person is a sight And never moves without the Ax and Rods To shew that Life and Death Depend upon his Breath And that his Pow'r approaches to the Gods This Pomp and Glory he does lightly prize His Tribute and Dominion yet much more despise With all the Vulgars gaze And simple Praise An Ode of Pindars far esteemeth more Than Crouds and Crowns than Trophies Triumphs all the Peoples Rore The great Pelaean Prince Achilles Tomb Beholding wept ' and his a happyer Doom Pronounc'd in being sung in Homer's Verse Than to be stil'd himself Lord of the Vniverse III. BEauty which does such mighty Monarchs sway Makes them to stoop whom all beside obey At whose proud Feet do prostrate ly Riches Youth Nobility Who causes her own Fair Sex for Envy dy This her Empire holds below The Glorys we the Muses do bestow Fam'd Helen thought it less To reign a Queen than to be enthron'd in Verse And Iulia did their Court despise Who her Person did admire Because Augustus was her sire What was so great in their's was little in her Eyes Chose Ovids celebrated Love to be Before her high Imperial Dignity The Learned and the Wise Seek Fame tho under Truths disguise Thy self great Paean the admired Eye Of Heav'n when brightest thou dost shine Th' art but a Planet in the Skye At Helicon a God and Pow'r Divine A Chorus here of all the Nine Joyn'd in the Close And Phoebus to restore the Day to mortal Men arose The Sullen Shepherd I. PRetending Muse What dost thou here Nought more Ungrateful can appear Thy Laurel I disclaim and Lyre Thy Verse and Musick less admire I 'd rather see a shaggy Coat Than this thy gorgeous Dress and Varie'gated Coat Th' adored Idol of our Plains Th' Ambition of our most accomplish't Swains Fair Aleria for a while By thy Arts I did beguil She did pronounce that I wou'd prove most true Who knew so well Beauty and Worth to give their due On this Success I bore me high But while on thee I did rely Behold where foil'd and scorn'd upon the Ground I ly II. THis is Pans high and solemn Day In which I Sung and on the Pipe did play Thro' Natures secrets Thou my Song did'st steer And the Celestial Orbs that guid the Year In wond'rous Strains I made our Shepherds know Whence fruitful and unfruitful Seasons flow Philosopher Bard Astronomer I my self
did show Our rev'rend Priest Damon the learned sire My soaring Numbers did so much admire Upon my Brow he plac'd his sacred Wreath Saying My Son This I to thee bequeath My Crook my Pipe my Priest-hood all I leave As to an Oracle the Congress all did bow With joynt Consent his Legacy allow III. YOung Thyrsis next to Sing arose For Theme the flow'ry Medows chose Soft Fancys did his Subject grace But more the Beautys in his Face The Rose and Lilly there Than those i' th' Field were held more fair These chiefly did support his Cause When Art did fail acquir'd him high Applause The Nymphs o'rewhelm'd him with their Show'rs Of Garlands and of fragrant Flow'rs Aleria too however slow Me to adorn did forward show By others willing to be led To plant a Rosie Chaplet on his Head Is this Thy promis't vast Renown Is this a Poets never with'ring Crown The Flow'r of Youth survives more Days A Flow'r it self than Thy immortal Bayes IV. TO 's Raving thus the Muse reply'd Art thou Strephon so Blear ey'd Which holdest thou the nobler Prize Th' Applause of Girles or Judgment of the Wise If Ideots know not Good from Bad Must all that 's Exc'lent be accounted Mad Because Aleria answers not thy Flame Are Phoebus and the Muses sacred Choire to blame This said Displeas'd she fled And tho convinc't of Folly in his Mind One Word the Sullen cou'd not find T' implore her stay Obscurer now became his Day But while he in Confusion lay To his amazement and surprize He saw Aleria stand with weeping Eyes And yet in Tears shewing Celestial Grace Strange so near Heaven sorrow shou'd find a Place V. STrephon said she your Faith I come to prove Faultless Aleria all that knew did love But when so many su'd my Grace to find To thee Fam'd Shepherd I was only kind This is the Hour 'T is put within thy Power To return my Generous Deed. Favour I then bestow'd but Favour now I need Which tho I say for my late acted Part I read my Crime in thy enraged Eyes not in my Heart After that Damon had advanc'd thy Fame To so Divine a Pitch me who cou'd blame If I to add my trifling Flow'rs was then with-held by shame If thou some savage Beast should'st see Lion or Tiger seize on me With hazard of thy Life thou 'dst set me free No Cruelty of Lions Tigers equals that of Jealousie VI. HEr Words his Heart her Presence charm'd his sight Yet still Morose and Foe to 's own Delight As beneath the Oak he lay He only this vouchsaf'd to say I am resolv'd not to out-live this Day You are the Murderer tho I my self do slay At hearing which she fell into a Swound And like a Star tho Dead she shon upon the Ground Horror did now his Soul invade Of 's hateful Mood he grew himself afraid He saw the Tendance of his black Disease And trembling set the Nymph to chear and God's t' appease No longer dally'd and delay'd But all that Duty Pity Reason did command obey'd The Words of our Lord Luke 23. 17. Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for your selves Apply'd to the Superstitious Penitents of the Church of Rome THy misplac'd Tears blind Penitent forbare With Sighs to raise a Tempest in the Air Cease the sad Suff'rings of our Lord to mourn That 's Head with Thorns his Flesh with whips was torn To hug his Cross desist to kiss his Wounds Placing in these Contrition's utmost Bounds Let faithless Iews lament this Tragic story Authors of 's Death and Exiles from his Glory These were they did the Holy One destroy To their Eternal Woe but Christians Joy Tho' they can never expiate their Guilt The World was saved by the Blood they spilt 'T is true that all Apostates Christ do slay All murder him who not his Laws obey But weep not then Our Lord sustain'd such Pain But weep for thee he suffer'd all in vain Weep when for Sin he under Torments dy'd No Sin by thee was ever mortify'd Weep not the Soldiers mock't and him disguis'd But him thy self has ridicul'd despis'd Weep 'cause the good his Death for others wrought Greater Damnation upon thee has brought Th' immortal Soul is such a precious Thing That to redeem it Christ from Heav'n did bring The lapsed Souls of Men I say to save He chang'd his Glory for a Cross and Grave And now they 're Ransom'd at so vast a Rate They far excel their Primitive Estate He then that now does for this Jewel trade The World tho gain'd has an ill Bargain made Not only what 's immortal does despise But Heav'ns dear Purchase also lightly prize Parts with his Soul Redeem'd and Saviour too When Mercy 's self no more for him can do Here is no place to act a Pageant Part Of Grief Christ's Suff'rings to set-off with Art Rejoyce in these bewail thy wicked Heart Isaiah 53. v. 2. He hath no form nor comliness in him and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we shou'd desire him THus th' Evangelic Prophet long fore-told The carnal Synagogue would Christ behold When without Worldly Pomp he did appear A King without a Court a Sword or Spear His Person and Pretences they 'd disdain Measuring him by his despicable Train It was enough cou'd they object no worse A mean Condition is it self a Curse The Spirit as their Wise-men taught deny'd On any but the Noble to abide Cou'd they believe that he cou'd Heav'n bestow Who not a Foot of Earth of 's own cou'd show That he their Nation cou'd exalt and save Whose miserable State relief did crave A Prophet say he were in Word and Deed They all were Prophets and they none did need T' expiate their Sins their Priests well knew Their Business was the Nations to subdue And tho' he spoke as no Man ever spoke Words wou'd not free them from the Roman Yoke An Abject daring Israel's Throne t' engross Deserv'd to be Exalted on the Cross. With these the Impious in all Ages joyn And with the Sanhedrim 'gainst Christ combine See nought that 's Great in him nought to admire Nought that is lovely or they can desire To Riches say he 's a professed Foe Indeed to all the World does Pleasant know So little aims Men's Happiness to improve He interdicts them what they most do love Joys visible and present bids forsake Invisible and absent to partake But Land on Earth they will exchange as soon For Lordships and Possessions in the Moon The Cloud conducted Israel in their Way Cast Night on Pharaohs Host on their 's a Day Messiah thus Inglorious in the sight Of sensual Men Illust'rious is and bright In 's Churches Eyes 'bove all she can express For all created Excellence is less His Majesty does ravish and amaze She can not speak it tho' adore and praise What Words can shew Immensness in a Span The son of God veil'd in