gaping Chasms amazing to the Sight Mingle the Day with Subterranean Night Th' inclining Poles as wrench'd aside appear And diving Isles conceal themselves for fear At his Command the rising Sun will stay And from the World keep back the ling'ring Day His marshal'd Clouds to intercept the Light Seal up the Stars the twinkling Eyes of Night The spreading Heav'n's he as a Curtain draws Treads down aspiring Waves and gives the Ocean Laws With Orbs of Light he inlays all the Sphears And studs the Sable Night with Silver Stars He all the Constellations hangs on high And bids the Planets wander thro' the Sky Stormy Areturus round the Northern Pole By his direction does unweary'd roll Orion and the Pleiades dispence At his Command their Rays and Influence His skillful hand on Airy Pillars reers The Vaulted Chambers of the Southern Spheres The long Succession of his Mighty Deeds Our everlasting Admiration feeds Behind a black impenetrable Screen Of Pitchy Clouds th' Allmighty walks unseen He that to follow in his Steps essays Thro' all his craggy dark perplexing Ways Scar'd by the sacred Horrors of the Place Will own the Maze Divine he cannot trace Nor the black Gulph and trackless Mountains pass He 'll stand astonish'd and bereft of Sense Lost in the awful Wilds of Providence If he his settled Purpose has exprest A Man of Wealth and Honour to divest What hardy Mortal will his Power withstand Or dares a reason why 't is done demand Till God withdraws the heavy galling Yoke And reconcil'd forbears th' afflicting Stroke Those who would rescue may their Pride express But by their fall their weakness shall confess Since none a Match in Power with God contends And none his Ways and Counsels comprehends Can I pretend to speak my Case to state And grapple with th' Allmighty in debate Can I his Ear with chosen Language charm And God of all his Arguments disarm Tho' I believ'd my Cause most Right and Just I would my doubtful Innocence distrust I would not plead with God but only pray That Justice he with Mercy would allay Tho' he should kindly grant me my Request Yet I so much despond am so Distrest That I th' amazing Truth should ne'er believe But as a gawdy Dream the joyful News receive Both sharp and lasting Suff'rings I have born With Wrath Divine as with a Tempest torn He perseveres and multiplies his Strokes Tho' no uncommon Guilt his Wrath provokes So fast his fierce redoubled Blows descend That I can scarce to all my Wounds attend No breathing Time is giv'n no short Relief From exquisite and never-ceasing Grief Should I his Throne with all my force Assail Against Allmighty Strength can I prevail If I Appeal to Judges and to Laws What higher Court can Sit to hear my Cause If I my Righteousness before him plead Will not my Words to my Conviction lead Will he not thence my Condemnation draw And in my purest Virtue find a flaw Should God pronounce me just yet I 'd refuse Uneasy Life and Death's Embraces chuse To all things you advance to represent God's Power and Justice fully I assent But then you err when you assert that God Exempts the Righteous from his scourging Rod. No Fav'rite Son is from his Frown secure But in his Turn does his sharp Stripes endure The Foolish from the Wise you cannot know By the false marks of Happiness or Woe 'Twixt Good and Bad there 's no distinction made Unless more frequent Darts the Good invade Against the Just th' Allmighty's Arrows fly For he delights the Innocent to try To show their Constant and their God-like Mind Not by Afflictions broken but refin'd He to the Wicked gives the Earth away And raises Monsters to Imperial Sway. He makes them Peace and Plenty to possess And crowns their Undertakings with Success While Men for Empire fit and Publique Trust Quick in discerning in deciding Just Worthy of Thrones Men of unblemish'd Fame Are oft expos'd to Misery and Shame This is th' Allmighty's Deed if not declare Its genuine Authors who and where they are My Life consumes in never-ceasing Woe My rolling Days uninterrupted flow To disembogue their Flood within the Deep Where all the Streams of Time collected Sleep No eager Couriers in their greatest haste Nor Ship before the Wind advance so fast The Eagle from the Mountains Airy top To strike his Prey does ne'er so swiftly stoop If I resolve my Sorrow to forget That I 'll no more my rash Complaints repeat That my unbridled Passion I 'll restrain This humble Resignation is in vain For God will never my Distress relieve He 'll punish on and tempt Men to believe That Iob by some unusual black Offence Has Heav'n provok'd such Judgments to dispence In vain I strive my Innocence to clear Since I must still these grievous Suff'rings bear Still the sad marks of Heav'n's displeasure wear If by my Vindication I should grow As clean and spotless as the Fleecy Snow When God replies my Stains before conceal'd To my Confusion would be all reveal'd My Foulness he 'll detect that I no more Should boast my Cleanness but my self abhor He 's not a Man my equal in dispute That I should hope his Reasons to refute Can I in Courts of Judgment take my place And plead against th' Allmighty Face to Face In this Debate what Umpire shall preside Hear all our Arguings and the Cause decide Let him his Terrors and his Rod withdraw And let his Mercy mitigate his Law For humane Frailty due Allowance make And I with Courage will my Tryal take I then will boldly speak and free from fear I 'll quickly make my Innocence appear But this request th' Allmighty does refuse He does the Rigour of his Justice use His awful Terrors which my Soul surround Drink up my Spirits and my Hope confound As I have done I therefore will complain This only way is left to sooth my Pain CHAP. X. My constant Woes such constant Groans create That Life 's a black uncomfortable State My Soul abhors this loathsom Lump of Clay Longs to be free to wing to Heav'n its way I 'll make my moan to give its Sorrow vent Else will my Breast be with its Tempest rent I cannot smother such Gigantick Woe Nor on my raging Grief a Muzzle throw I can't forbear to God I 'll thus complain As one that 's Wicked do not me Arraign Why dost thou let me thus in torment lye And thus in vain for Heav'n's Compassion Cry Do not thy Servant by uncommon Woes To Publique Censure and Reproach expose Mankind will Me Condemn and cry we know His Crime 's enormous since his Pain is so Can God Complacence in Oppression take And vex his Creatures for the Pleasure's sake O can a God of Mercy cruel grow No Pity feel no tender Passion show Can God my Father e'er Unnatural prove Shut up his Bowels and forget to love Will he with hostile Force his Sons invade Pleas'd
him and all File off in turn He is not more unhappy than the rest His Fate is common to the worst and best Why then do you pretend that prosp'rous days I yet might see would I amend my ways Experience your Assertion contradicts And shows that Heav'n the Righteous oft afflicts That the best Men prodigious Suff'rings bear While God is pleas'd great Wickedness to spare CH XXII Then Eliphaz If undefil'd thou dost thy Virtue keep Is God oblig'd does he the Profit reap Were all thy Days in pure Religion spent Would that th' Almighty's Happiness augment When he does strictly Righteousness enjoyn Does he his own Advancement seek or Thine If thou art Good the Profit is thy own God needs thee not he on his Heav'nly Throne Crown'd with Essential Bliss in Triumph â—its Unmeasur'd Bliss which no increase admits Does he in Wrath attempt thy overthrow Fearing in time thou shouldst too Potent grow I grant thy Suff'rings great and numerous are But with thy Guilt they just Proportion bear Justice Divine its Banks ne'er overflows All monstrous Suff'rings monstrous Crimes suppose Either thy Neighbour's Pledge thou hast detain'd And by Extortion hast his Substance drain'd Or of his Garment thou hast stript the Poor And sent him Naked from thy cruel Door Or to the Man with burning Sunbeams fry'd At his last Gasp thou hast thy Spring deny'd Or thou hast seen thy hungry Neighbour dye For want of Bread which thou wouldst not supply Or else unjustly to the Rich and Great Thou hast decreed another's Land and Seat While thou the mournful Widow didst oppress And crush without Remorse the needy Fatherless For some such Crime tho' secret and unknown Thou dost beneath this heavy Vengeance groan For this with Snares thou art encompass'd round And suddain Fears thy trembling Soul confound Thick Shades and Darkness o'er thy Dwelling spread And dismal Floods of Grief whelm o'er thy Head Does not th' Almighty sit enthron'd on high On the steep Convex of th' Empyreal Sky Whence with a quick and easy Prospect he Can all his Works and Worlds around him see Yet thou dost act as if thou didst believe Thou couldst th' Almighty's searching Eye deceive As if thou saidst how can th' Almighty know How can he mind and judge of things below Vast is the Gulph of Air that lies between And from his sight thick Clouds the Sinner skreen He walks the happy Circuit of the Sky Nor casts on this low dirty Ball an Eye Uninterrupted Pleasure him employs While he alone his Blissful Self enjoys Our Good or Evil Deeds our Joys or Pains Unworthy of his Notice he disdains Lo from thy Lips whate'er expressions break This is the Language which thy Actions speak Didst thou with due Attention ne'er behold The Paths in which the Wicked trod of Old Who from the Earth for their enormous Crime Were hurried off by Death before their time Who to th' gen'ral Flood became a Prey And with their Sons and Wealth were swept away These did th' Almighty's sacred Laws deride Contemn'd his Favour and his Threats defy'd They cry'd if we Religion's Rule regard Who will our Pains and pious Zeal reward Yet God their Houses with Abundance blest Enlarg'd their Empire and their Stores increast But who was by their Wealth to Envy mov'd Or who their impious Words or Ways approv'd For tho' like thee they Peace a while enjoy'd Yet they at last were from the Earth destroy'd But Righteous Men have still the Joy to see Justice Divine rebuke Impiety Th' Almighty they 'll exalt in Songs of Praise Who does his Glory by such Judgments raise They shall th' Oppressor's Pomp and Power deride When Heav'n's just Vengeance thus corrects their Pride The wicked perish while the pious Race Of Patriarchs whence our Descent we trace Favour'd by Heav'n possest their ancient place They never were to Desolation doom'd Never by such prodigious Fire consum'd As raining down from Heav'n in flaming Showers Destroy'd proud Sodom's and Gomorrah's Towers Wherefore O Iob to God with speed return With deep Contrition thy Offences mourn O'erwhelm'd with Shame and Sorrow prostrate lye Before his Feet and for Compassion cry Let humble Prayer and penitential Tears Appease Heav'n's Wrath and thus remove thy Fears When God is pleas'd all Nature will express A forward Zeal t' advance thy Happiness God's gracious Aspect with its Heav'nly Light Will dissipate this dark tempestuous Night Joy will arise and with its cheerful Ray Chase all these sullen Clouds of Grief away Will Iob prophane and impious Maxims learn From stupid Heathens who from all concern From Things below th' Almighty's Care exempt And thus expose Religion to Contempt No let the Law which God of old reveal'd To humane Kind which yet is unrepeal'd Or which should written in thy Heart abide Be made thy Rule of Life and sacred Guide Within thy Breast with pious Care record His blest Instructions and his Heav'nly Word If thou sincerely wilt thy Life devote To virtuous Deeds and wilt with Zeal promote Th' Almighty's Honour and Religions Cause By strict observance of his Righteous Laws He all thy dismal Ruins will repair And all thy reunited Fragments rear He 'll raise thy Head now buried in the Dust And make thee midst the Clouds thy glitt'ring Turrets thrust He 'll fix thy Pillars deeper in the ground And stronger Bulwarks shall thy House surround He shall thy Plenty and thy Peace restore And give thee Empire wider than before Thou shalt no more of Vengeance be afraid No Terrors more shall thy safe Tents invade Thy Neighbours shall with Wonder thee behold With Cedar blest adorn'd with Gems and Gold Thou such prodigious Treasures shalt command Thou shalt like Dust collect thy Golden Sand. Thy rich but disregarded Ophir Oar Shall lye like Stones on every River's Shore Wedges of Silver from the purest Mine Pil'd high in Heaps shall round thy Dwelling shine Against thy Foes th' Almighty will contend Protect thy Plenty and thy Life defend Thou with his Favour shalt be ever blest A vast Reward exceeding all the rest Thou shalt derive from him thy chief Delight The Thoughts of whom does now thy Soul affright Up thou shalt look with Courage and employ Thy Thoughts on Heav'n with Confidence and Joy Thou to th' Almighty shalt have free Access And to his Throne prevailing Prayers address When thou art heard thy Vows in Trouble made Shall with a glad and thankful Heart be paid All thy designs th' Almighty shall approve And thy decrees will ratify above Before thee he shall Heav'nly Light display To solace and to guide thee in thy way He shall protect thy Paths thy Counsels bless And crown thy Undertakings with Success When wicked Men shall be around destroy'd Stript of the Power and Wealth they once enjoy'd Thou shalt not feel th' Almighty's wrathful hand But undisturb'd enjoy thy fruitful Land For God the humble Person will regard And with his Blessing will his Love reward Nor
Life bereave The Wretch no Funeral Honours shall receive His cursed Corps expos'd to open Day Shall lye to ravening Beasts and Birds a Prey While one with open Eyes can look around Heav'n shall the Man his Race and Name confound A dreadful Inundation of Distress And Woes like thronging Waves his Soul shall press An unexpected Storm of Wrath shall rise And in the Night the careless Man surprise An Eastern Whirlwind shall his Palace tear Catch up and with its rapid Eddy bear Th' Oppressor far away thro' Wilds of Air. God shall his fatal Darts against him throw Nor will he spare him when involv'd in Woe The miserable Man for Mercy crys In vain he weeps and prays in vain he flys His Neighbours round shall his just fall deride Applauding Heav'n that thus corrects his Pride I always thought the righteous God at last Would on the wicked sure Destruction cast Nay some his Wrath does in their blooming blast But taught by observation I assert That he is pleas'd to let the greater part In Peace and Splendour pass their happy years And long their day of Punishment defers Whilst oft the Just that serve and love their God Bewail their Wounds inflicted by his Rod. This puzzling Conduct these mysterious ways Create my Trouble and my Wonder raise But you because your Reason can't unty The hard perplexing Knot the Fact deny As if you thought your narrow Wit and Sense Could reach th' unâ—athom'd Depths of Providence In things below your Wisdom may appear But these are Heights that far surmount your Sphere CH. XXVIII Advent'rous Man may with successful pains Dissect the Ground trace all the shining Veins Of Silver Oar and wrest with labour forth Its golden Entrails from th' embowel'd Earth The sweaty Smelter finds a proper place Where from the Dross to purge the precious Mass. Men dig out pondrous Iron from the Mine And Molten Copper in the Flames refine The Miner â—earches all the Seats beneath Gloomy and lonesome as the Shades of Death Where Nature far withdrawn from humane sight To mould and shape her Min'rals does delight To fashion precious Stones with curious Art And hardness due to Metals does impart They all the Earth's dark Bowels open lay And make the Central Shades acquainted with the Day But often subterranean Floods invade The Miner's Caves thro' which he cannot wade With wondrous Toil the Men their Works maintain And from the Mine the flowing Deluge drain While fruitful Trees and bending Ears of Corn Laden with Bread the Earth above adorn With sparkling Gems its inward Parts are stor'd And fatty Minerals full of Fire afford Here beauteous Saphirs far remote from Day Do a blue Heav'n midst common Stones display Here Nature scatters with a lavish hand And with the Rubbish mingles golden Sand. No Fowl of Heav'n no not the Vulture's Eye Fam'd for quick Sight did e'er these Seats descry Those Sons of Pride the Lyons never found These Caves and dark Recesses under ground To Beasts and Birds these Regions are unknown By Men discover'd and by Men alone By Men who cut thro' hardest Rocks their way Dig thro' the Hills and Mountains level lay That the Metallic Wealth may be reveal'd Which in their massy Bowels lies conceal'd If rising Springs o'erflow the precious Vein Men fashion Channels in the Rocks to drain Th' invading Flood till they their Treasure gain Thus into Nature's Secrets Men descend And may to Knowledge in her Works pretend But who can Heav'n's deep Counsels comprehend Who can inform th' Enquirer who can tell Where Skill Divine and Heav'nly Wisdom dwell For sensless Man its value does not know 'T is never found midst Mortals here below The Land exclaims aloud I am not blest To be th' abode of this Celestial Guest The Sea and all its noisy Waves declare In vain you seek the sacred Stranger here Th' Infernal Deep cries with a hollow Sound Here 's no Apartment for her under ground Th' unvaluable Blessing can't be bought With all the golden Wealth from Ophir brought He that has Wisdom Rubies will despise And Pearl if tender'd as an equal Price Saphires and Diamonds with vast labour sought The Topaz fetch'd from Countries far remote Which worn by mighty Kings attract regard Are worthless Toys with this bright Gem compar'd Who can instruct us then whence Wisdom flows And who the place of Understanding knows Since after strict enquiry we despair To find it in the Land the Sea or Air Death and Destruction cry midst all our Slaves We ne'r saw Wisdom to our secret Caves We the Celestial Stranger ne'er convey'd Nor hid her in our solitary Shade We only are acquainted with her Name Have only heard of her Immortal Fame Only the Great All-penetrating God Knows his own Offspring Wisdom's blest abode For he surveys from Heav'n's bright Crystal brow The vast expanded Universe below The spacious liquid Vales of Sky and Air And all his Worlds that hang in order there The Bounds of Nature Chaos and old Night Limit the Sun's but not its Maker's Sight He has in Prospect this Terrestrial Isle And sees th' extreamest Bound'rys of its Soil He forms the various Meteors which appear Thro' the low Regions of the Atmosphere He deals out to the Winds their proper weight Gives them their Wings and then directs their Flight He measures out the drops with wondrous Skill Which the black Clouds his floating Bottles fill When he decreed the manner of the Rain And did the Lightning's crooked Path ordain When he appointed Nature's course and way And gave command that thence she should not stray Then Wisdom he beheld he search'd with care His own All-seeing Mind and found it there He oft reflected on the sacred Guest Which had her sixt abode within his Breast And in his Works her God-like Form exprest But then to Man to whom he had deny'd The perfect Knowledge of his Ways he cry'd The Fear of God is Wisdom to depart From Evil this is Science this is Art Attempt to know no more than God reveals Search not the Secrets which his Breast conceals In this Abyss trust not thy vent'rous Oar Wouldst thou be safe then keep upon the Shore And from afar this awful Deep adore Thy Happiness in being Righteous lies Be Good and in Perfection thou art wise Justly thou mayst despise the boastful Schools And learned Cant of grave disputing Fools CH. XXIX Moreover Iob continued thus and said O that the happy Days might be restor'd When gracious Aid th' Almighty did afford When his Celestial Lamp shone o'er my Head And with its Light directed me to tread In lonesome Paths with horrid Darkness spread When secret Blessings did my Youth attend And Guardian Providence my House defend When all my Children round me stood and God Did with his Presence bless my safe abode With Teats distended with their milky store Such numerous lowing Herds before my door Their painful Burden to unload did meet That we with Butter
might have wash'd our Feet Besides the Harvest of my richer Soil Ev'n Rocks themselves pour'd Rivers out of Oyl When thro' the Streets I march'd in Princely State To fit in Judgment in the City Gate The younger Men soon as my Face they saw Drew back thro' Fear or reverential Awe The Aged Fathers as I past along Stood up and bow'd amidst the gazing throng Princes and Lords of ancient noble Blood To shew Regard before me silent stood The Ear that heard me did the Speaker bless The Eye that saw me did its Joy confess Because th' Oppressor's Rage I did withstand And wrested Suff'rers from his griping hand The Poor and Helpless when almost devour'd Rescu'd by me on me their Blessings pour'd A Father's Place to Orphans I supply'd And made the Widow joyful as a Bride With Righteousness and Mercy cloath'd I â—ate Awful as drest in splendid Robes of State And spotless Justice won me more esteem Then a great Monarch's Guards or Diadem Refresh'd by me the Naked Blind and Lame Thro' ringing Streets my Bounty did proclaim I with Paternal Bowels fed the Poor No needy Wretch went Hungry from my Door Those Frauds and Injurys of which th' Opprest Durst not complain I sought out and redrest My righteous Hand broke fierce Oppressor's Jaws And of their Spoil disseiz'd their bloody Paws I now have built said I my lofty Nest Where I 'll repose and feed on endless Rest. My Days shall all be prosp'rous and increase Till they exceed the Sands around the Seas With neighb'ring Streams below my Root was fed And from above kind Heav'n by Night did spread Refreshing Dews o'er all my branching Head I then was strong as in my youthful Bloom And with new Vigour did my Bow assume Th' attentive Throng while I in Judgment sate Profoundly Silent did around me wait Like clust'ring Bees upon my Lips they hung And suck'd the Words like Honey from my Tongue To my Discourses no reply was made My Dictates were as Oracles obey'd My Speech upon them drop'd like Summer Raiâ— That falls from Heav'n upon the thirsty Plain If I my solemn Air put off if e'er I kind and condescending did appear The People scarcely could believe me so Nor did they rude or too Familiar grow They no ill use of those my Favours made But still a due Respect and Rev'rence paid What way to follow I th' Enquirer told And all Mens doubtful Questions did unfold I sate as Chief while they around did stand My Looks and Language did their Minds command When I appear'd they did such Joy express As shouting Armys do when in distress They see their General come whose Presence gives Their Breasts new Courage and their Hopes revives CH. XXX Now Providence Divine has chang'd my State Such are my Wants and such my Woes of late That those young Men my Poverty deride To whose intreating Fathers I deny'd The Priviledge my numerous Herds to keep Or with my Dogs to sit and guard my Sheep For they were grown their Manly Vigour spent With Vice and Age so Weak and Impotent They were no more for useful Labour fit But wander'd Hoary Beggars thro' the Street Opprest with Want and Famine till at last They were like Thieves from every City chas'd Trembling with fear to shun their Neighbour's sight To solitary Woods they took their Flight Roam'd o'er the Plains by Day and skulk'd in Hills by Night In thorny Dens and rocky Caves they lay To Lyons Hunger or their own a Prey Of Juniper they Eat the bitter Root Unsavory Herbs and wild unwholsome Fruit. To ease their Hunger with Supplys of Food They made the Mountains bare and stript the Wood. Brambles and Thorny Branches they devour Beneath whose shelter they had lodg'd before A Stock so Vile a Progeny so base Ne'er brought on Humane Nature more disgrace Ne'er was a Kingdom curst with such a Race Yet to their Sons I am a standing Jest So low is Iob so Poor and so Opprest What Contumelious Insults have I born From these vile Men what unexampled Scorn With bitter Scoffs they suff'ring Iob revile And pass me by with a disdainful Smile They have me in Contempt abhor my sight And as from one Infected take their Flight They dare affront and mock me to my Face Since God is pleas'd on Iob to bring disgrace And to afflict me does his Power engage They too unbridle all their savage Rage Young Striplings poor afflicted Iob despise And to obstruct my way against me rise No Methods no Devices they neglect Which likely seem my Ruin to effect My Righteous Actions they perversly wrest And by their Taunts my Anguish is increast Still to invent new Slaunders they proceed And are so fruitful they no Helper need On me they come as conquering Soldiers rush Into a Town or as a mighty Flush Of rapid Waters which have broken down Th' opposing Banks and then the Vally drown Like pressing Waves their Terrors on me roll And as a Storm my Foes pursue my Soul My Joy and Peace dissolve and melt away As morning Mists before the rising Day And now my Soul is griev'd my Flesh diseas'd And dismal Woes have me their Pris'ner seiz'd All Night I lye extended on a Rack My Bones are tortur'd and my Sinews crack The Putrefaction from my running Boils In loathsome manner all my Vest defiles Close to my Sores it sticks as to my Throat The narrow Collar of my seamless Coat Me deep in Mire God has in Anger spurn'd Ev'n while alive I seem to Ashes turn'd I cry unto thee but am never heard I make my Moan but does the Lord regard The gracious God is grown to me severe Quite chang'd his very Nature does appear His mighty Hand from which I hop'd Relief Is now extended to augment my Grief Like Chaff I 'm caught up by the Wind and tost And this and that way driv'n till I have lost My Flesh and Substance which I once could boast I find the Tomb must quickly me receive The general Rendezvous of all that live His Hand th' Almighty will not stretch to save A Wretch that seems already in the Grave Not all the Crys that by my Friends are sent To Heav'n my sure Destruction shall prevent Did not my Soul for Men in Trouble mourn Did not my moving Bowels in me turn And o'er the Poor touch'd with Compassion yern Yet fatal Disappointment fore Distress Came when I most expected Joy and Peace While I was waiting for the chearful Light Darkness o'erspread me and a dismal Night My Soul in restless Agonys of Grief Tormented lay and hopeless of Relief So unawares was my Affliction sent The suddain Stroke did quick-ey'd Fear prevent To solitary Seats I love to creep And dark Recesses where I groan and weep To antient lonesome Ruins I repair And mossy Heaps in damp unwholsome Air A Desolation wild as my Despair There I so long have cry'd and made my moan That to the salvage Beasts my Story
and Majestic Voice Which issue thence and terribly declare That God has fixt his high Pavilion there Observe too how he spreds upon the Streams And on the Deep the Sun 's diffusive Beams Where for the Clouds they levy fresh Supplys And raise Recruits of Vapours which arise Drawn from the Sea to muster in the Skys Which he for different purpose does employ Some serve in Storms the Wicked to destroy Others refresh the Earth with genial Rains And make his Fields reward the Farmer 's Pains Sometimes he draws his hovering Mists between The Heav'ns and Earth and makes his Clouds a Screen To intercept the Light and so defeat The Fruits and Flowers of their expected Heat Brute Beasts themselves by Nature's instinct Wise When they observe the gath'ring Clouds arise Can tell if Storms and Tempests are design'd Or if sweet Showers will to the Soil be kind C. XXXVII When Clouds with murm'ring Thunder laden roll The dreadful Noise affrights my trembling Soul A noise at which pale Atheists are distrest And feel a shiv'ring Horror in their Breast A noise which makes the Righteous Man revere Th' Almighty's Judgments with a pious Fear Attend I pray to this Tempestuous sound Which breaking from the Clouds does all around Diffuse and propagate its Force and you Will the like Terror and Confusion shew This dreadful Voice which Heav'n's high Arches shakes Thro' all the Airy Realms its progress makes Th' Almighty to the World 's remotest Ends His Red-wing'd Lightning always with it sends First from the Clouds the flashing Flames appear Then fearful Claps of Thunder strike the Ear. The noise augments till Storms of Rain or Hail Descending thro' the Air the Earth assail He that his Thunder with such Force projects Produces other wonderful Effects By which the greatest Wits confounded own Their Reason and Philosophy outdone He moulds and whitens in the Air the Snow And with its Fleeces spreads the Earth below He bids the Rain descend in gentle Showers Or from the Clouds vast Spouts of Water pours Which interrupt the Labour of the Day And drives th' unwilling Husbandman away From all his rural toyl and makes him know That God the Seasons governs here below The Beasts themselves these stormy Seasons chase From the wide Desart to their lurking Place They slumb'ring in their Dens are forc'd to stay And in their Sleep pursue and tear their Prey Mark from the Southern Regions of the Sky The Winds that blow are turbulent and high These on their Wings do Foreign Tempests bear And charg'd with Seeds of Storms and Stores of War Unload conflicting Meteors in the Air. Then in the Northern quarter of the Skys By his Direction adverse Winds arise Which to remove the former are employ'd To purify and clear th' Aerial Void He by the blasts of this restringent Wind Does the Cold Globe in Crystal Fetters bind To Glass they turn the Lakes on which they blow Benumb the Floods and teach them not to flow He spends in Dew the Evening Mists that stay And lag below drawn by a fainter Ray Spent with th' exhaling labour of the Day Sometimes the Lord of Nature in the Air Hangs evening Clouds his Sable Canvas where His Pencil dipt in Heav'nly Colours made Of intercepted Sunbeams mixt with Shade Of temper'd Ether and refracted Light Paints his fair Rainbow charming to the Sight These Meteors are directed by his Hand And move and take their Course by his Command So do the rest that this low Region fill And on the Earth they execute his Will Sometimes a sinful Nation to destroy He Pestilential Vapours does employ Which their Clandestine poison'd Darts prepare And with Corruption arm th' infected Air. O'er all the Land their Forces they diffuse And panting Thirst and purple Plagues produce But if he 's pleas'd his Bounty to express And will with Plenty pious Nations bless Then fruitful Dews descend at his Command And healthful Seasons make a happy Land O Iob Attention give no more object To God no more on Providence reflect Rather his Counsels and his Rule adore Admire his Works and Reverence his Power Canst thou declare what Orders from above Will come by which these Meteors are to move Canst thou by all thy Skill so much as know When in the Clouds he 'll draw his beauteous Bow Canst thou presumptuous Man the way declare How pondrous Clouds hang ballanc'd in the Air Canst thou expose such Secrets to the Light The wondrous Works of Wisdom Infinite Whence come the soultry Gleams and scorching Heat When we beneath our lightest Garments sweat Why should the Southern Breezes calm the Floods Make soft the Air and dress in Green the Woods How should they breath thro' all the heaving Soil Prolific Warmth to bless the Labourer's toil When from the South such furious Whirlwinds rise And stormy Clouds pollute and vex the Skys But now O Iob proceed and raise thy thought To Objects nobler higher more remote Wert thou in Council with th' Almighty joyn'd When he the Model of the Heav'n's design'd To fashion them didst thou Assistance give What Ornament what Strength didst thou contrive When he extended o'er the empty Space His high Pavilion where was then thy Place Didst thou one end of the wide Curtain hold And help the Bales of Ether to unfold Tell which Cerulean Pile was by thy hands unroll'd Tho' this transparent Starry Firmament Is so sublime and of such vast Extent That it confounds our weak and feeble Sight Yet is it firm as well as clear and bright If thou hast Skill instruct us what to say Of Power Divine and we 'll Attention pay We own when e'er our Minds attempt to climb To Objects so unequal so sublime Our baffled Thoughts can no Discovery boast But are Confounded and in Wonder lost What words that suit the Case can I express Or what to God worthy of God address He that of God would a Description give Will with a Task insuperable strive Let him his Reason stretch he 'll quickly find The mighty Object will distract his Mind The steddiest Head will turn at such a height Who can undazled gaze at uncreated Light The hardy Men that make the bold Essay Immensity of Being to survey Are lost in that unsearchable Abyss In Boundless Power and vast unmeasur'd Bliss Giddy with Splendour and excess of Day They in a Maze of Glory miss their way For Men alass their Eyes so feeble are Cannot the Sun's Meridian Lustre bear When Northern Winds have swept and clear'd the Air. Then sure with Terror seiz'd they should decline The awful Sight of Majesty Divine That Majesty from which we should retire And at a distance humbly should admire And not too far into its Nature pry Or gaze upon it with a curious Eye For after all th' Attempts we make we find Our Reason cannot grasp th' Eternal Mind So Boundless so Transcendent is his Might So Wise his Conduct his Decrees so right That no Man should debate
empty Vanity in Arms. If God the Spring of Life and Pow'r By whose supplys his various Worlds endure Held back his Streams Mankind would soon expire Dissolve and into nothing strait retire Since his Perfections so transcendent are What Image can his Being represent What can you with Almighty Strength compare What Figure of Infinity invent The senseless Heathens to the Artist run Who deals in Deities of Wood and Stone The Fools bespeak an Antick lacker'd God To Guard their Persons and Abode The melted Metal in the Furnace flows Then in the Mould the stiff'ning Idol glows And when their God grows Hard and Cold The Workman makes him fine and daubs him o'er with Gold The Crowd their gaudy Deity admire Th' effect of Art the Creature of the Fire Then least their Feeble God should fall With Silver Chains they fix him to the Wall A likely Guardian this to save The Men that his Protection crave The Man that 's grown so Indigent and Poor He can't an Off'ring for his God procure To Idols he 's so much inclind Will ways to get Materials find And to engage the chiefest Artist's Care A Graven Image to prepare Tho' after all his Cost and Pains The worthless Piece fixt in his Place remains It can't advance a Step or move a Hand In his Defence that does his help demand Ye Pagan Realms that cover'd lie With the thick Darkness of Idolatry How can a Truth to all reveal'd As clear as Day be still from you conceal'd That is that God's the only God to whom You should with humble Adoration come The Starry Heav'ns which he has made The Earth whose deep Foundations he has laid His Being and his Majesty declare And shew how boundless his Perfectionâ— are Above the Circle of the Earth on high He sits enthroâ—'d amidst th' Emperial Sky Whence when he casts his Eyes around And views the Earth hung low in Air As little Insects creeping on the Ground Contemptible Mankind appear The Heav'nly Sphears as Curtains he expands With Orbs of Light Magnificent His fine transparent Ether with his Hands He spreads to form his Royal Tent. He at his Pleasure can destroy The Kings that greatest Pow'r and Wealth enjoy He can their royal Heads uncrown And from their Thrones can cast them headlong down Deep Root they shall not take nor spread Amidst the Clouds their shady Head Blasted and with th' Almighty's Breath opprest As with a furious Tempest from the East Their ruin'd Branches shall decay And fade like with'ring Plants away Where then says God can Men my Equal see What Object can resemble me Lift up O Man on high thy wond'ring Eyes Regard the Palace of the Holy One View the bright Constellations of the Skies Where he has â—ixt his Adamantine Throne Did not th' Eternal from th' Abyss of Night Call forth those Heav'ns and all those Orbs of Light Do they not run their Courses and dispence At his Command their Light and Influence He their great Gen'ral Day by Day Draws out his glitt'ring Armys in Array In constant Musters on th' Etherial Plains The Squadrons he reviews and all their Posts ordains As Master of his Starry Family He calls his shining Servants out by Name Gives them their Tasks to which they all agree Whereby his Pow'r and Greatness they proclaim Why dost thou say O Iacob I complain And make to God my moan in Vain He to my Sorrow no Compassion shows Neglects my Tears and disregards my Woes The proud Oppressors cruel Yoke Does not his vengeful Wrath provoke I am no more th' Almighty's Care Else he would hear my mournful Pray'r And not desert me in my deep Despair He 'll be no more my Advocate My Cause to manage in debate He will no more my Injuries redress No more condemn my Foes who me oppress He 's pleas'd so long his People to disown That now our Case is desp'rate grown Now if he would he can't assistance give We 're ruin'd and undone past all retrieve O dost thou not unthoughtful Iacob know Who made the Heav'ns above and Earth below Did not thy God th' Eternal Lord Create them with his great commanding Word He rules the World he made with equal Laws Will such a God desert his Peoples Cause Will he that all things wisely does direct His People's Interests neglect Will he their Suff'rings slight and earnest Pray'rs reject He grows not faint nor does his Vigour wast With Age or with his Labour past His undeclining Strength feels no decay Still can he punish those who disobey He can as strong an arm as e'er extend To crush his Foes his People to defend Nor dos he with a less attentive Ear The Crys of guiltless Suff'rers hear But then the Seasons of Deliv'rance rest As Secrets in th' Almighty's Breast The Depths of Providence are fathomless Nor will its Heights admit access And therefore in his Pleasure Man must Acquiesce He to his People still Deliv'rance sends When it promotes their Good and serves his glorious Ends. His Counsels which so far exceed our reach Sould Patience and Submission teach He gives supplies of Pow'r to those that want Strengthens the Feeble and revives the Faint The Youngest Men in whose distended Veins And brawny Nerves Athletic Vigor reigns If they on God should not rely Would quickly languish sink and die But those who humbly on his Strength depend Their stock of Vigor ne'er shall spend He 'll reinforce them with recruits of Pow'r And their decaying Strength restore They shall on Wings like Eagles mount on high And with like force and swiftness cut the Sky They shall or Walk or Run still forward press And ne'er complain of Weariness God daily shall their Strength encrease That they their Burdens may sustain with Ease Till he shall chuse his time his Captives to release Part of the LII And the whole LIII Chap. of Isaiah PARAPHRAS'D MY Servant shall acquire divine Renown And regal Honours shall his Temples crown Kings at his Feet their Diadems shall lay And all the willing World his Empire shall obey His Godlike Government and righteous Laws From Men and Angels shall receive applause He shall his own and Subjects Rights maintain Protect his Friends Oppressors rage restrain And everlasting Peace shall bless his glorious Reign As Men at his Affliction were amaz'd And on his wondrous Woe with Horror gaz'd Whose Face was so deform'd his Flesh so worn With all the Toyl and Torments he had born No Eye e'er saw no Tongue can e'er express Such perfect Grief such infinite distress So shall he be exalted and his height Shall bear proportion to his humble state His Heav'nly Doctrines on the Nations round Shall fall as dropping Rain upon the Ground Attentive Monarchs with a greedy Ear Shall all his wise Divine Instructions hear They 'll with profound Humility receive The Oracles and Counsels he shall give No more their impious Tongues shall him condemn No more Religion or its God blaspheme His Godlike
their Predictions with the greater Advantage to use the past for the future Tense that is to speak of Things to come as already done so that their Prophecies often seem Historical Narrations of Matters already transacted Therefore the Reader is not to be surpriz'd when in the second Song of Moses he finds that great Prophet speaking of what befel the Children of Israel in Canaan as things past in his own Time which did not happen till long after his Death I am of Mr. Cowley's Judgment who in his Preface declares that there are no more noble Subjects of Poetry to be found than those the Scriptures furnish us withal and therefore I have made this Attempt 'T is true Mr. Sandys a Gentleman of great Merit has done this before but that I did not know till after I had begun this Work and made some Progress in it and when I had perus'd part of his Paraphrase I thought I might be able to supply some Defects especially in relation to Perspicuity and Coherence As to the Leviathan and Behemoth mention'd in the latter Part of this Book I have appropriated the Character of the first to the Crocodile and of the last to the Elephant I believe the Marks enumerated by the Learned Bochart do justly determine the Description of the Leviathan to the Crocodile but I can't see any necessity from what he urges to conclude Behemoth to be the Hippopotamus or River-Horse The Character given in Job is in my Opinion more sutable to the Elephant The Reasons alledg'd on both sides may be seen in the Critici before-cited and whether the one or the other be true is not a Matter of that Importance as should oblige me to transcribe the Arguments in this Place Perswaded by the Reasons of some Learned Commentators I have taken the Unicorn for the Uri or wild Bull and not the Oryx or wild Goat according to Boshart or the Rhinoceros according to others I impose not my Opinion on others These are Matters of small Moment and every Man is at liberty to think as he pleases A PARAPHRASE UPON THE Book of JOB CHAP. I. IN ancient Times e'er Moses Wonders wrought And murmuring Israel back from Egypt brought A Prince of great Renown and wide Command Whose name was Iob dwelt in Arabia's Land He in the Heav'nly Paths of Virtue trod And fear'd to Sin because he fear'd his God Sev'n goodly Sons that Admiration bred And Three Fair Daughters crown'd his Nuptial Bed With gracious Heav'n's peculiar Favour blest The prosp'rous Man unmeasur'd Wealth possest His Fleecy Flocks o'er all the Hills were spred And in his Stalls a Thousand Oxen fed When he decamp'd to find a new Abode Three Thousand Camels bore along the Road His precious Goods and groan'd beneath the Load No Lord was found thro' all the Spicy East Whose Herds and Stores so vastly were increast His Sons to Feast each other did prepare By turns rich Liquors and delicious Fare And to their Treats their Sisters they invite To pass the â—lowing hours in soft delight While Charming Music Dances Sports and Play Gave swifter Wings to Time to fly away Beguil'd the Night and hurried on the Day Conscious that Sin does oft such Mirth attend The Father fear'd his Sons might Heav'n offend For he with mournful Eyes had often spy'd Scatter'd on Pleasure's smooth but treach'rous Tyde The Spoils of Virtue over-power'd by Sense And floating Wrecks of ruin'd Innocence He therefore for his Soâ—s to Heav'n convey'd His Supplications and Atonement made And while they Feasted he devoutly pray'd There was a Time when all the Sons of God Came to th' Allmighty's bright and blest Abode To pay their Adoration at his Throne Which high on Adamantine Pillars shone Around in Throngs the prostrate Seraphs lay Absorpt in Glory and Excess of Day ' Midst the bright Cherubs haughty Lucifer By marks of Guilt distinguish'd did appear To whom th' Eternal thus Apostate whence Com'st thou to these blest Seats of Innocence Th' Apostate said I Lands and Seas have crost And past from Clime to Clime from Coast to Coast Till I the Tour of yon low World had made And all its Empires and its States survey'd My Course compleated to these Seats of Light Mounting th' Aerial Void I wing'd my Flight Th' Allmighty then demanded In thy Way And toilsome Course Ambitious Spirit say Hast thou observ'd good Iob my Servant one In Righteousness and Piety by none Thro' all the wide Terrestrial World out-done Whose perfect Virtue Admiration draws From Men on Earth and finds in Heav'n Applause I 've long observ'd reply'd false Lucifer Thy Favourite and watch'd his Steps with Care Without the Saint is in Perfection seen But is the Saint without a Saint within He serves his God but does he serve for nought Does he thy Glory or his own promote Does he Religion for it's Self regard And Virtue Court not Virtue 's bright Reward Is it his Honour to Revere his God Who has his Smiles but never feels his Rod Hast thou not crown'd the Labour of his Hand Increas'd his Stores extended his Command He can't complain unless with Wealth opprest With Favours over-laden over-blest Entrench'd within th' impenetrable Fence Within the Works and Lines of Providence He can defy the most impetuous Shock And all th' Assaults of Hostile Forces mock With such Abundance blest with Honour Crown'd The Weakest Virtue may maintain its ground But let this Prosp'rous Wealthy Saint be try'd Let this pretended Gold the Test abide Change but the Scene and let thy Frowning Brow The marks of Anger and Displeasure show Extend thy Hand and touch his tender Part Thou 'lt find his Power and Substance next his Heart Despoil'd of these he 'll Curse thee to thy Face And naked Virtue will no more embrace Th' Eternal to th' Apostate thus reply'd Let him Affliction 's sharpest Edge abide The Fence I rais'd around him I remove Go let thy Malice try his Truth and Love Let Righteous Iob thy fiery Tests endure But let his Person be from Pain secure He said Th' Apostate from his Presence went And on his fierce malicious purpose bent He on Arabia made a swift Descent Mean time it happen'd at a splendid Feast Iob's Eldest Son in turn receiv'd the rest The Sisters with their Brothers Drank and Eat All the delightful kinds of Wine and Meat When at Iob's House a Courier did arrive Sweating with Speed Panting and scarce alive Horror and Wildness in his Aspect bred Just Fears of dismal News and thus he said Invading Robbers from Sabea warm'd With hopes of Booty and with Lances arm'd An Inroad made and first the Men destroy'd Who kept thy Herds and then the Spoil enjoy'd I am alone by favourable Fate Escap'd th' unwelcome Tydings to relate While he was speaking with as swift a pace Another came and with as sad a Face And thus he said O Iob a suddain Storm And lowring Clouds did all the Sky deform The bellowing
The Men who curse their Foes with deadly spite Wish Iob's Affliction on their heads may light My Neighbours cry when they my Suff'rings see Is Iob thus chang'd Good Heav'n's it cannot be My Eyes with Sorrow sunk within my Head Of Light defrauded seem already dead So much my Flesh and Vigour I have lost I seem an empty Shade or groaning Ghost But the Good Man will pity not arraign Afflicted Iob to aggravate his Pain He will revere this Providential Turn Not judge my Person but my Suff'rings mourn Tho' he with wonder shall observe the Just Are by th' Almighty trodden in the Dust Yet he with sacred Indignation prest Shall shun the Wicked and his way detest He for afflicted Virtue shall declare And Innocence to prosp'rous Sin prefer He shall the Heav'nly Path of Justice keep However rough embarast dark and steep Let him by bloody Out-laws be opprest And Robbers who the Way to Heav'n infest Let Persecution's blackest Storm arise And with a dismal Night deform the Skies Let stern Affliction muster in the Air Her fiercest Troops to drive him to despair Let bitter Tongues their sharp Reproaches spend And impious Scoffers galling Arrows send The God-like Trav'ller shall his Path pursue Whose very Suff'rings shall his Hopes renew He 'll with undaunted Courage make his way Danger his Heart shall strengthen not dismay But you my Friends to my Discourse attend And weigh my Words your Errors to amend For hitherto I can't among you find One of a clear judicious equal Mind You would in vain my Expectations raise If I Repent of future prosp'rous Days For my appointed Hours are almost past My Hopes and Projects Death will quickly blast The Lamp of Life burns dimly in my Breast Soon from its beating toil my weary Heart will rest If for a happy Change you lay a Scheme You but amuse me with an empty Dream Terrestrial Joys are but an idle Theme With my Designs and anxious Thoughts I part Farewel ye Cares that once possest my Heart I to my Sorrows only can attend In groans the Day in groans the Night I spend If Grief and Woe denominate the Night I ne'er enjoy the Day or see the Light The gloomy Terrors that my Soul surround Efface its marks and Day with Night confound Alass 't is madness to expect that Rest And Restoration which my Friends suggest For by a fixt irrevocable Doom My Grave 's prepar'd my everlasting Home Where friendly Death has laid my easy Bed With Dust beneath around with Darkness spread I to the Grave have said O Parent Grave Me of thy Dust a wretched Offspring save To take me in thy gloomy Arms extend Thou art my Father O be now my Friend And me from hostile Life and Light defend I to the Worm have said my Brother Worm From whom I differ but in Shape and Form Submitted to thy Power I soon must lay This loathsome Heap of putrifying Clay Where 's then the Hope which you pretend to give That I may yet in Peace and Pleasure live If I Repent to see it you must go Down to the Grave and the Cold Shades below There you may see how all my Hopes and I In the same Grave together buried lye CH. XVIII Then Bilâ—ad thus When wilt thou finish thy prolix Discourse Sounding indeed enough but void of Force Consider what shall be alledg'd and then To thy Objections we 'll reply agen What does thy wondrous Arrogance create What self-sufficient Fulness thee elate What secret Stores of Wisdom hast thou found And what new Lights have thy Enquiries crown'd That we such vile and sensless Creatures seem And are but stupid Beasts in thy esteem Impatience and ungovernable Rage Thy furious Hands against thy Self engage Thy wild Discourses from Distraction flow And not Repentance but Rebellion show What to appease thy peevish Discontent Shall God new Forms of Government invent Shall Providence new ways and measures take And steddy Nature her old Course forsake Shall Rocks and Mountains from their Pillars leap Sink down and humble their aspiring Heap Shall Floods and rapid Rivers sullen grow Bind up their Waters and refuse to flow Shall God his Truth and Justice disregard Neglect the Righteous and th' unjust reward Shall he subvert all Order with intent Thy vain Complaints and Clamours to prevent O Iob in spite of thy Objections take This Rule as sure that God will ever make A due distinction of the Good and Bad And sparing those his Wrath shall these invade The Splendor of the Wicked shall decay And rising Fogs shall choak his glorious Day His brightest Beams like short-liv'd Sparks of Fire Or Flashing Light'ning shine and strait expire Thick Darkness equal to the Shades of Hell Shall on his dismal Habitation dwell Ne'er from without shall one kind Ray of Light Or chearful Lamp within dispel the Night He in his wisest steps shall unawares Be fetter'd with inextricable Snares He 'll live in Trouble and perplexing Cares By his Projections and his deep Designs He his own Peace and Safety undermines Into the Net himself has spread he 'll run Wisely destroy'd and prudently undone His Feet shall be entangled in the toil And shouting Hunters seize him as their spoil Let him o'er Plains or Hills or Forrests stray Inevitable Gins obstruct his way Which shall entrap this roaming Beast of Prey Invading Terrors shall his Soul affright The Wretch shall fly but perish in his Flight His Bones the Pillars of his Fabrick crack His Joynts grow feeble and his Sinews slack Fierce rav'ning Woes his Flesh and Strength consume And Desolation in his heavy Doom Death and Destruction o're his head impend All his soft Pleasures shall in Torment end The Pillars which his Cofidence did prop Shall let the high presumptuous Structure drop And in the Ruins bury all his Hope The King of Terrors with his bloody Dart Shall strike the pale Oppressor to the Heart Then at his gloomy Wheels shall drag the Slave In triumph to his subterranean Cave Torments destructive Plagues and raging Pain Shall horrid Inmates in his House remain Triumphant Woe with hideous Terrors crown'd Anguish with all her Agonies around Wild Consternation with erected Hair Yellings Distress and sullen mute Despair Th' Apartments of his Dwelling shall divide And dire Companions with him shall reside Because his rich Possessions and Abode By Violence were gotten or by Fraud When falling Floods of Fire and Sulphur Showers O'erturn'd high Sodom's and Gomorrah's Towers The flaming Inundation from the place Swept off their Dwellings and the impious Race So shall the proud Oppressor be devour'd Such Fire and Brimstone on his Palace pour'd Which shall all Marks and Monuments destroy Of the vile Wretch that did the Seat enjoy His Roots grown dry shall perish in the ground His Head and Limbs cut off shall lye around In after-times he 'll be unknown to Fame Or mention'd only with Reproach and Shame From off the Earth God's vengeful Darts shall
to a wild excess Thou dost against thy Friends such Threats express Since thou dost Heav'n with thy Complaints alarm And mark us out for God's vindictive Arm I must my setled Resolution break For thus provok'd who can forbear to speak Thou dost upbraid us as of Sense bereft Without Compassion without Justice left That we Contempt and Shame would on thee pour And like outrageous Beasts thy Life devour But I that fully know thy gross mistake Can 't silent sit but must an Answer make Hast thou who mak'st to Wisdom such pretence Not yet remark'd the Course of Providence How since the Earth's Foundations first were laid Thro' all the Revolutions Time has made The Triumphs of th' unjust have quickly past And his vain Joys did but a moment last Tho' his bright Head above the Clouds he reers And mingles Lustre with contiguous Stars O'erturn'd and ruin'd he deserts the Skies And in the Dust dispers'd in Fragments lies Th' unrighteous perish with a swift decay Like his own Ordure cast with Scorn away Those who before his Glory did admire Now seiz'd with Wonder for his Place enquire Astonish'd they these questions oft repeat Where can we find him now where is his Seat His Fame and short-liv'd Glory disappear Like thin Illusions form'd of gawdy Air. Like wanton Dreams that in the Fancy play Or empty Phantomes that by Twilight stray The Eye that saw him ne'er shall see him more Ne'er shall his House again unfold to him her Door His Children strive t' appease the Poor in vain These of their Suff'rings publiquely complain Those to restore their Substance are compell'd Which from the Poor their griping Father held With Vice decrepit he perceives within The sad effects of his past youthful Sin His wasted Flesh and putrifying Bones Force him to utter never-ceasing moans As he to Sin did with Affection cleave So Sin too faithful him shall never leave The guilty marks of his unbridled Lust Are still his sad Companions in the Dust. Tho' Vice is by him greedily embrac't And proves most sweet and grateful to his taste Tho' the delicious Morsel with his Tongue He rolls about the Pleasure to prolong Yet the sweet Meat he swallow'd down so slow Does in his Bowels Gall and Wormwood grow It does like Poison rage along his Veins And gripes and racks him with tormenting pains What if th' Oppressor Riches has devour'd And down his Throat unmeasur'd Treasure pour'd He cannot long th' unrighteous Load retain His loathing Stomach with regret and pain Shall cast the precious Surfeit up again God shall his Belly of its Prey beguil And from his Bowels wrest the wealthy Spoil The profitable and delightful Sin Which he has suck'd with so much pleasure in Shall like a Viper gnaw and tare his Heart And wound his Entrails like a poison'd Dart. The Streams of Joy and Rivers of Delight Which he believ'd would all his toil requite Shall disappoint his hope and in their stead Amazing Floods of Sorrow shall succeed For that his Neighbours wrongs may be redrest Which he by Fraud or Violence opprest He shall refund his wicked Wealth and more Shall give what justly was his own before Tho' he may Riches gorge the painful Spoil In massy Vomit quickly will recoil The time it stays the bloated Glutton lies Distended to a vast Hydropic Size But he no Strength or Nourishment shall reap From the crude Mass and undigested heap Because the Poor despairing he has left Whom he by Rapine of his Goods bereft Because by open or by secret Guilt The Dwelling he has seiz'd another built Therefore his inward Gripes and conscious Fear With self-revenging Pains his heart shall tare Convulsive Throws and raging Agonies Shall rack his Soul and on his Bowels seize The Riches he so eagerly did crave With all his watchful Care he shall not save His Heir what Treasure he has left behind Shall ne'er enquire for none he 'll hope to find When he shall most with Power and Wealth abound With Guards encompass'd and with Empire crown'd Then suddain Mischiefs shall his Seat surround Fierce Bands of Spoilers shall his Lands invade And far away his Wealth shall be convey'd When he designs his Riches to enjoy And all his Senses with Delights to cloy A dismal storm of Wrath Divine shall rise And gath'ring Vengeance shall disturb the Skies While he is feasting free from Fear or Care The Heav'n's shall hurl down unexpected War God on his Head shall such a Tempest pour As did thy Children in their Mirth devour His Consternation and distracting Fear Shall make him fly to scape the Sword and Spear But a swift Arrow from an Iron Bow Shall overtake and strike the Rebel thro' Officious Friends to heal his wounded Veins Shall draw the bloody Weapon from his Reins Whose glitt'ring point distain'd with issuing Gall Shows certain Death attends his suddain fall He shall in raging Pangs and Horror lye Hopeless of Life and yet afraid to dye Against him God shall Storms and Plagues provide And stores of Wrath in secret places hide He his dark Caves and Magazines shall stow With chosen Vengeance and collected Woe From cleaving Clouds a fiery Tempest pour'd Like that which on the Hills thy Flocks devour'd Shall on his Substance and his House descend And to destroy the Wretch its Fury spend His Progeny if any shall remain Shall pass their dismal Days in Grief and Pain Thus Heav'n by dreadful Judgments shall reveal The Wickedness he did with Care conceal The Earth shall all her Elements unite Muster her Armies and against him Fight The Substance he has gain'd shall flow away Like rapid Torrents in that dreadful Day When God provok'd by all his Crimes shall come In Storms of Wrath th' Oppressor to consume God to th' unjust this Portion shall divide This sad Inheritance is on him ty'd He 's the right Heir with him it shall abide CH. XXI And then afflicted Iob reply'd Forbear To interrupt me thus with Patience hear And weigh my Arguments while I proceed In my Defence this I 'll accept instead Of all the Consolation which from you Is to a Friend in such Affliction due Sedately hear my Reasons out and then Reproach and mock your suff'ring Friend agen When I in bitter Anguish make my moan Do I complain of cruel Man alone I oft with Reason do and must declare That God's vindictive Arm is too severe That I the mark of all his Weapons stand While Men more guilty scape his vengeful Hand But what if I of Man alone complain Is my Complaint unjust because 't is vain Have I not reason to indulge my Grief When neither Man nor God afford Relief Consider well my sad afflicted State My unexampled Suff'rings will create Astonishment and make you hold your Peace And from reproaching me for ever cease When I reflect that Providence Divine Does on the Wicked as on Fav'rites shine That vile and irreligious Wretches cloy Their pamper'd Senses
Sorrow can resist its force Thy blest Instructions and thy grave Advice Can teach the Blind and make the stupid Wise. Display'd by thy Divine Discourse I find A Heav'nly Day irradiates my Mind Thou hast thy point by solid Reason prov'd And like an Oracle all doubts remov'd What knowing Spirit has thy Bosom fir'd For thou hast argu'd as a Man inspir'd But say to whom dost thou address thy Speech Am I so weak and of so short a reach That I must still be taught the Common Theme Of God's Imperial Sway and Power supreme I could th' Almighty's wondrous Works with ease Like you recite as for example these He all the wanton Monsters form'd that play And bound above the Bosom of the Sea Wild Water-Gyants hideous Forms that reign Lords of the vast inhospitable Main A salvage Race that range the liquid Fields And fill with Rapine all the wavy Wilds All the mute Nations of the deep Abyss And Finny People of the Floods are his To hide from God its sad Inhabitants And dusky Realms Hell thicker Darkness wants Compacted Shadows and substantial Night Elude the Sun 's but not th' Almighty's Sight Death does in vain her sable Covering spread And in her secret Vaults loâ—k up the Dead Th' Almighty's Eye does all her Spoils survey And no distinction knows of Night or Day He o'er the empty Space displays on high The blue Expansion of the Northern Sky He hangs the pond'rous Earth in liquid Air And his Command and Providential Care Are the sole Pillars that support it there He bids the loose and fluid Clouds sustain Imprison'd Tempests and suspend the Rain Distended with the Waters in 'em pent Their Wombs hang low in Air but are not rent But then at his Command successive Drops Distill from Heav'n and crown the Farmer 's Hopes Lest his high Throne above expression bright With deadly Glory should oppress our sight To break the dazling Force he draws a Skreen Of sable Shades and spreads his Clouds between He raises rocky Bounds around the Deep And does the raging Waves in Prison keep That whilst as order'd by Alternate sway The Sun and Moon shall rule the Night and Day The Foaming Surges rolling o'er the Strand Might not a Deluge spread and drown the Land The Hills and Mountains whose aspiring tops Appear the Pillars and unshaken props Reer'd to sustain the Heav'n's expanded Roof Tremble with Fear and shake at his Reproof He with his mighty Power the Sea divides And ploughs deep Furrows in its wounded Sides At his Command the threatning Billows rise Mix Waters with the Clouds and lave with foam the Skies But in a moment he corrects their Pride And bids the Sea repel her swelling Tide Uproar is husht the Ocean at his Frown Shrinks in and calls it's tow'ring Surges down The trembling Waves creep softly to the Shore And Tempests over-aw'd no longer roar The Heav'nly Spheres around in Order turn'd With clust'ring Constellations he adorn'd He the great Serpent form'd and bid him rowl His Starry Volumes round the Northern Pole These of his Works are part but still I own To us his Wonders are but little known To such extent who can his Reason stretch As his vast Power and Providence can reach His boundless Wisdom who can comprehend Who will to search the dark Abyss descend Who can his Wonders number who declare Of Energy divine the utmost Sphere CH. XXVII The Pious Iob here paus'd a while and stay'd For their reply but no reply was made Then he his grave and wise Discourse revives And said as God my great Creator lives Who has to hear and judge my Cause deny'd And my vext Soul with sharp Affliction try'd While the warm blood dilates my winding Veins And in my Nostrils while my Breath remains That Breath th' Almighty did himself inspire Gently to fan and feed the vital Fire No Falshood will I mix in this debate Nor with perfidious Lips express Deceit Under the Censure of my Friends I lye Charg'd with Offences of the deepest Dye Oppression Fraud and deep Hypocrisy Shall I acquit their rash Censorious Tongue Confess th' Indictment and my Virtue wrong Forbid O Heav'n that I should ever own So black a Charge of Crimes to me unknown I till I Dye will stedfastly assert The pure Intention of my upright Heart From this Profession will I ne'er depart Conscience whose Court of Justice is within Can ne'er accuse me of delib'rate Sin The wicked and their ways I so detest That might I feed Revenge within my Breast And might I have permission to bestow The greatest Curse upon my greatest Foe I would desire that Foe might all his days Delight in vicious Men and vicious Ways What if the Sinner's Magazines are stor'd With the rich Spoils that Ophir's Mines afford What if he spends his happy Days and Nights In softest Joys and undisturb'd Delights Where is his Hope at last when God shall wrest His trembling Soul from his reluctant Breast Must he not then Heav'n's Vengeance undergo Condemn'd to Chains and Everlasting Woe This is his Fate but often here below Justice o'ertakes him tho' it marches slow And when the Day of Vengeance does appear The Wretch will cry but will th' Almighty hear If bath'd in Tears Compassion he invokes The unrelenting Judge will multiply his Strokes His vain Complaints and unregarded Prayer Will drive the raving Rebel to despair Or will he e'er with Confidence apply Himself to God and on his Aid rely Will he not rather cease in his distress His Prayers to Heav'n hereafter to address Do not disdain to learn and I 'll reveal How the just God does with the Wicked deal To you some secret Methods I 'll detect By which he 's pleas'd his Conduct to direct All you your selves have by Experience found For my Assertions there 's abundant ground I grant that some not all the wicked Band As you assert feel God's vindictive Hand And this should make the proud Oppressor dread Lest Vengeance should assail his guilty Head Children he multiplies to be devour'd By ling'ring Famine or the raging Sword Untimely Death his Offspring shall consume And sink them deep in black Oblivion's Womb. His Wives well pleas'd to see the Tyrant's Fate Shall joyful Mourners on his Funeral wait Tho' he does Gold in lofty Mountains heap And as the dust has Silver Treasure cheap Tho' Robes of State wrought with Sidonian Skill And rich embroider'd Vests his Wardrobe fill Yet shall the Just and Upright Man divide His precious Treasures and his Purple Pride The Judge's righteous Sentence shall restore The Wealth he wrested from the injur'd Poor His Dwelling like the Moths shall soon decay Which settles in a Garment for a Day But suddainly is crush'd and swept away Or like the Lodge a Keeper does erect His Garden Fruit or Vintage to protect Which when the Swain has gather'd in his Store Is pull'd as quickly down as reer'd before When Heav'n th' Oppressor shall of
Strength in Troops repair'd They left their old Abodes to be possest By Owls and Bats and every rav'ning Beast Until their fruitful Land at last Became a wild Inhospitable Wast O Israel these were thy sad Wants and Woes These thy Oppressions when I Deb'rah rose When I arose a Mother to restore Thy former Peace and Wealth and Pow'r Till then thy blind Apostate Sons forsook Theirs and their Father's God and took New fangled Gods of old unknown Gods lately into Reputation grown Gods carv'd in Wood or cut in Stone Heav'n thus provok'd excited Foes Who full of rage against our Citys rose Confed'rate Kingdoms War with Israel wag'd And horrid Slaughter in our Bowels rag'd And well it might for we were so disarm'd That when the Foe our Gates alarm'd Did there a single Shield or Spear Midst forty Thousand Israelites appear O Israel then I rose to rescue thee From thy vile Chains to set thee free Nor can my Song too much exalt the Fame Of those great Chiefs who freely came To give me Aid and to subdue our Foes Did gen'rously their Lives expose Give them their due Applause but chiefly bless The God who gave them Courage and Success Ye Lords in Courts of Judgment who preside And thro' the Streets in awful State With num'rous Trains attended ride Th' Almighty's wondrous Work relate Ye People who can leave your safe Abodes And travel now secure in Publick Roads You that do now in Joy and Peace Your Fig-trees and your Vines possess You who no more the noise of Archers hear But unmolested to your Springs repair Do you rehearse God's righteous Deeds Whence this your unexpected Peace proceeds Awake awake O Deborah awake Quickly thy Harp and Timbrel take A Song of Triumph and of Joy rehearse In lofty Strains and noble Verse A Song that may just Honour pay To the great Deeds of this illustrious Day O Barak rise arise thou valiant Chief Whose Conqu'ring Arms have brought relief To Israel in our vast distress And made our haughty Foes their Impotence confess Thou mighty Man advance and lead along Thy Spoils and Trophys thro' the cleaving Throng Thy Captives lead in clanking Chains All their vast Army's small Rematns Thou who the dreadful Battel didst display On that decisive glorious Day Now draw thy Pomp and Triumph in Array Iacob's Remains by Heav'n with Empire crown'd Have laid their Yoke on Canaan's Kings around Ev'n me the Lord has rais'd to Regal Sway And made the Mighty my Commands obey Thy Sons did first the War embrace Forward in Arms O Benjamin And next to thee a few of Ephraim's Race Advanc'd and joyn'd their Troops with thine Rulers and Nobles from Manasses came Whose brave example did the rest inflame The Scribes of Zebulun and learned Men To weild the Sword laid down the Pen. The Princes and the Lords of Issachar Despising Danger undertook the War With Zeal they follow'd me their Head And Barak to the Field their valiant Squadrons led Ah Reuben how were we dismay'd To be defrauded of thy Aid Ah why didst thou desert thy Country's Cause Why did not Reuben share this day's applause Say when thy Breth'ren arm'd with Sword and Shield For Liberty advanc'd into the Field Why didst thou sullen in thy Tents abide As if in Blood and Int'rest not Ally'd Couldst thou to Arms thy Shepherd's Crook prefer And rather chuse thy bleating Sheep to hear Than the loud Thunder of a noble War Oh how much Trouble to our State Did this ignoble Deed of thine create Gilead beyond the Flood of Iopran stay'd And of the haughty Foe afraid Refus'd to give his Brethren Aid Dan on his Wealth and Shipping too intent No Succours to our Army sent Asher with like inglorious Negligence Trusting to Rocks and Caves as his defence Stay'd on the Shore and no Assistance gave Our Worship or our Liberty to save But oh what wondrous Deeds were done By Napthali and Zebulun With what an ardour what a warlike rage Did those brave Men in Fight engage Methinks I see those Warriours make Their bold and irresistible Attack Greedy and fond of Danger they The Squadrons cleft and cut the way To the chief Places of the Field Which did the chiefest choice of ruin yield Which were with plenty of Destruction stor'd And all the horrid shapes of danger did afford Where Death triumphant in the Battel stood Besmear'd with Brains and Dust and Blood Great Potentates of formidable Fame Captains and Kings against us came Their confluent Troops from every Coast Compos'd a vast o'erâ—lowing Host. We saw th' advancing Deluge from afar And all the must'ring Tydes of complicated War They stopt and in Battalia stood Upon the Banks of Kishon's Flood Thither our eager Squadrons flew There did we fight and there proud Iabin's Troops subdue The radiant Host of Stars above Drew out and did in warlike order move They did their Darts from Heav'n's high Turrets throw And charg'd with fatal influence the Foe They to our Aid their glitt'ring Forces brought And against Sisera in their Courses fought O Kishon then thy troubled Tyde Was choak'd with Carcasses with Crimson dy'd Swords Helmets Shields roll'd all beneath And of the lighter Instruments of Death Spears Arrows Darts a floating Wood O'erspread the surface of thy Flood Thy current swept their Troops away And with their mighty Spoils enrich'd the wondring Sea Thy banks and all the Vale about Were spread with marks of ignominious rout Chariots o'erturn'd and scatter'd Shields And broken Hoofs deform'd the Fields Hoofs torn and on the stony places cast O'er which the flying Horsemen past Accurst th' Almighty's Angel cry'd Accurst be Meroz who her help deny'd Vengeance and Plagues on her vile People light Who would not for their God and Country fight But let us Iael's Courage sing Let loud Applauses thro' our Citys ring Of Heber's Wife above the rest Of Womankind may she be blest Great Sis'ra choak'd with heat and dust Demanded Water from the Spring She to allay the Gen'ral's thirst Did Milk and Cream in costly Vessels bring She to the Nail the left apply'd And with her right hand did the Hammer guidâ— And as the mighty Sisera Stretcht on the Pavement â—leeping lay Th' undaunted Woman with a noble blow Drove in the Nail and pierc'd his Temples thro Amaz'd not waken'd with the Wound He sprung and bounded from the ground The brave Virago did her blow repeat And laid him prostrate at her feet He bow'd and fell and gasping lay Quiver'd and groan'd his Life away She drew his Sword and with a Manly stroke The Warriours Head from off his Shoulders took His Mother looking thro' her Window said Why is his Triumph thus delay'd Why does his lingring Chariot stay Why roll his Wheels so slowly on the way Her Maids nay she her self reply'd The Conqu'rors stay their Booty to divide The distribution made each Chief can shew A Damsel for his share or two But Sis'ra's Prey outshines the rest His
is a party-colour'd Vest Which Gems and rich Embroidery adorn Fit by the greatest Princes to be worn These boastful words she spoke while Sisera Dead in the Tent of Iael lay Lord let his Fate attend thine Enemys So let them perish who against thee rise But let the Men who Wickedness abhor Who love thee and thy Name adore Be like the Sun Who when refresh'd does in his Vigour rise Eager to run All the blew Stages of the spacious Skys David's Lamentation Occasion'd by the Death of Saul and Ionathan 1 SAMUEL Chap. I. WHen Ionathan and Saul expiring lay On the curst Hills of Gilbâ—a Ah black inglorious fatal Day 'T was then unhappy Israel Thy Beauty Strength and Glory fell How were thy mighty Warriours slain What a red Deluge bath'd the reeking Plain How were thy Sons to Conquest long inur'd How were thy Valiant Chiefs devour'd By the Philistine's unrelenting Sword How terrible how sudden was their Fate These Pillars fal'n that prop'd thy State Who shall support thy sinking Empire's weight Let Fame be struck with horror dumb That to our Foes the News may never come Let our dishonour be to Gath unknown Proclaim it not in Askelon Lest if their Daughters come to know Our loss and unexampled Woe They in their Feasts and Dances should express Insultingly their Joy at our distress And impiously ' devout should raise Their carv'd and graven Gods in wicked Songs of Pâ— Ye Hills of Gilbâ—a the fatal place O'er which the Foe did Israel chase Ye luckless Hills Spred with your Monarch's Ignominious Spoils May you the marks of Heav'n's displeasure bear Be you no more the Farmer 's care Let no kind Cloud hereafter pour On your parch'd Heads one fruitful Shower May the relentless harden'd Sky No Rain by Day or Dew by Night supply To ease your Thirâ—t and gaping clefts cement With Fire be blasted and with Thunder rent Let not a blade of Grass or Corn Nor one green Tree your Heads adorn By Heav'n accurst to future Ages stand Uncultivated Heaps of barren Sand. For vanquish'd Israel o'er these Mountains fled There with ignoble Rout the Fields were spred There lay our Weapons mingled with our Dead There scatter'd Bucklers lay Which routed Israel cast away There may the Shield of Saul be found Midst common Bucklers on the ground Thy Body too unhappy Monarch there Lys mixt with vulgar Corps expos'd in open Air. O Saul O Ionathan ye mighty Dead You ne'er before in Battel fled The Arrows from the Son's unerring Bow Have pierc'd ten thousand valiant Warriours thro' The Father 's unresisted Sword Like raging Fires around devour'd By no Opposer e'er withstood The crimson Conq'ror reek'd in Hostile Blood Till now you ever us'd to come Laden with Spoils and Trophys home Your Chariots thro' the confluent gazing Throng Us'd in slow State to roll along While crowds of Captive Princes chain'd Wiping their Brows with dust and sweat distain'd Did panting in the Pomp appear Part of the long Procession of the Rear Our Daughters both in Mind and Habit gay With Songs and Dances on the way Met and increast the Triumph of the Day Thus Vict'ry us'd to crown The mighty Father and the valiant Son Now vanquish'd o'er the Hills they fly From the pursuing Enemy Surprising change of Providence Those who resistless were can now make no defence So courteous were the Royal Pair So condescending mild and Debonnair That they became to all the Nation dear No more their kindness fail'd to move The People's universal Love Than their fam'd Courage did their Neighbours fear They liv'd in strongest bonds of Love combin'd And as they liv'd so they together dy'd So close was their Affection joyn'd That Death it self could not the knot divide For tho' they fell opprest with Pagan Power Their Love still triumph'd o'er the Conquerour And yet their Clemency did ne'er abate Their Courage and their Martial heat For they as swift as hungry Eagles flew Or to attack or to pursue And when they were in fight engag'd Like Lyons when provok'd they thro' the Battel rag'd O Daughters of Ierusalem express A Sorrow worthy of our vast distress Unite your Groans and mournful Crys Unite your Tears and Agonys Apply your selves to weeping day and night Raptures of Grief be your Delight Thro' every Street lamenting go Strains of unruly Anguish show And howling Tempâ—sts raise of wild despairing Woe too exquisite Affliction can't be shown Since Saul is fal'n from his Imperial Throne Saul lys upon the Mountains dead Who with abundance Israel fed Who gave you Garments glorious to behold Scarlet adorn'd with Needle-work and Gold Who hung rich Bracelets on your Arms And with bright Gems increas'd your native Charms Whose Arms enrich'd your Towns with precious Spoil And fill'd with Foreign Wealth Iudea's happy Soil How did the mighty Prince and all His valiant Chiefs in Battel fall How are the Hills with Slaughter spred How are our Captive Sons in Triumph led Captives who drag th' inglorious Chain Captives less happy than the Slain Horror and Shame hark how the shouting Foe How proud Philistia mocks our Woe Thro' all their Streets what Acclamations ring Hear how their Daughters sing See how they dance While their victorious Troops with Israel's Spoils advance O Israel where is now thy warlike Fame How will thy once much dreaded Name By Foes so often vanquish'd be despis'd By all the Nations of th' Uncircumcis'd Oh Ionathan how dear wert thou to me How dear must be thy Memory No Time can from my Breast remove Thy Image or thy wondrous love A Love like which we none recorded find A Love surpassing that of Womankind Their Love was ne'er so tender pure and strong And never lasted in excess so long What gen'rous Friendship hast thou shown What dreadful Dangers undergone To raise thy Rival to thy Father's Throne Kindest of Brothers my afflicted Soul Does thy unhappy Fall condole Thy suddain thy disast'rous Fate Does Agonies of Grief create As in a Storm my rolling Bowels move With strong Convulsive Throws of sad distracted Love I would the highest marks express Of uncontroul'd unmerciful distress For if my Grief does not outrageous grow 'T is unbecoming my unmeasur'd Woe Nothing 's enough that 's less than all that Love can show THE Second PSALM PARAPHRAS'D WHat means this mighty Uproar whence arise This great Commotion these tumultuous Crys What has alarm'd the Nations what offence Does all the jealous States around incense What does the Heathen Fire with so much Rage What Iacob's Sons in such Designs engage As they can ne'er effect or if they do They 'll miss the end they furiously pursue Infatuated Men you 'll sure repent Your rash Attempts too late the sad event Will show your Projects vain your Malice impotent Confed'rate Princes wicked Friendship make And in their Anger desp'rate Councels take Against their great Creator and his Son And hope the Lord 's Anointed to dethrone Let us say they assert
Heav'n his Rain upon the Vine And thus converts the Water into Wine Which does revive Man's Heart his Cares relieve And to his Face a better Lustre give Than when with Oyl it does anointed shine With Oyl another noble Gift Divine He fills the teeming Glebe with Crops of Corn Which cloath the Vallys and the Hills adorn The Staff of Humane Life at his Command Springs from the Furrows of the fruitful Land He from the Clouds does the sweet Liquor squeeze Which cheers the Forests and the Garden Trees With the rich Juice he feeds their thirsty root Which fills their Limbs with Sap their Heads with Fruit. To this the Cedars that adorn the Brow Of Lebanon their Height and Beauty owe. The Firs too thrive by drops from Heav'n distill'd In which the Storks their Airy Houses build The Mountains reer'd their Heads at his Command And Pillars to his Praise erected stand In these and in the Rocks the salvage Kind From the pursuer's Arms safe Refuge find He form'd the Moon the Seasons to divide And gave it Empire o'er the Ocean's tide The Sun he burnish'd till its Orb became A Spring of Light and undecaying Flame Which knows the Stages of its heav'nly way And does by turns roll up by turns display The wide and bright expansion of the Day 'T is God who made the Day that makes the Night He in the Air to suffocate the Light Does from his open'd Stores of Darkness let A gloomy Deluge out of liquid Jet He wipes the Colours off from Nature's Face And lays on Night's deep Shadows in their place Now the wild Beasts by Hunger bit awake And from their drowsy Eyes their Slumber shake From out their Dens the Spoilers yawning come The Forests Range and o'er the Mountains roam Young rav'ning Lyons from the Woods retreat Roar out to Heav'n and beg from God their Meat They on his Providential Care rely Who does his Creatures various Wants supply But when with his reviving Morning Ray The rising Sun regenerates the Day They to their Dens retire with Toil opprest Stretch out their weary Limbs and take their rest But Man goes forth to labour in the Morn When the tir'd Lyon does from his return God's Works of Pow'r our Wonder and his Praise Thro' all the World his Works of Goodness raise To form the Sea he drew his Compass round And with the mark it left describ'd the ground Then dug th' unfathom'd Hollow which the Main And all the Floods and Rivers might contain So populous these watry Regions are That Nations numberless inhabit there Mute Nations that are here supply'd with Food Whose Finny Wings divide the crystal Flood Here 't is the Ships along the yielding Tide Before the Wind upon their Bellys glide The Whale the Soveraign that the Sea controlls Here takes his Pleasure and in Pastime rolls He plays and tumbles in his Watry Court And troubles all the Ocean with his Sport He makes his Spouts for his Diversion play And toss against the Clouds th' uplifted Sea Projected Billows from his Nostrils rise And mix the Ocean with th' astonish'd Skys This mighty Monster who does Monarch reign And all the Nations that possess the Main All creeping Creatures Herds and harmless Flocks All Beasts that range the Woods or hide in Rocks All Passengers that beat th' Etherial Road With feather'd Wings wait for their Meat from God At his expence they eat by various ways He for his numerous Family purveys His open'd Hand dispences fresh supplys That more than all his Creatures Wants suffice To substitute Successors in the place Of those that perish and to save the Race And Kind of every living Creature God Does his prolific Spirit send abroad Which thro' the Earth does quick'ning Pow'r diffuse And Heat which fresh Productions there produce Since on the Earth th' Almighty does dispence Th' unnumber'd Blessings of his Providence And with his Favours has all Nature crown'd Let all the World with Songs of Joy resound Let Men for ever bless his glorious Name Recite his Wonders and his Praise proclaim If stupid Man this Tribute should neglect His God th' ungrateful Wretch can soon correct If on the Earth he does in Anger look It trembles at the terrible Rebuke It from its strong Foundations starts for fear And twisting Gripes its working Entrails tear The Mountains shiver and their Heads incline At the reproof of Majesty Divine The Hills forget they 're fixt and in their fright Of all their weight they strip themselves for flight The Rocks from off their Marble Pillars break And which they us'd to give a Refuge seek The Woods with Terror wing'd outstrip the Wind And leave the heavy panting Hills behind All Nature troubled and in deep distress Of God's Displeasure does her Fear express But I whatever others do will sing The due Applauses of th' Eternal King With pleasure I 'll contemplate all my days His wondrous Works and wondrous Goodness praise And let obdâ—â—ate Sinners who refuse To give him Glory and his Gifts abuse Be from the Earth as they deserve destroy'd While thou my Soul art in his Praise employ'd THE CXIVth PSALM PARAPHRAS'D WHen God a thousand Miracles had wrought The fav'rite Tribes Deliv'rance to promote And marching on in Triumph at their head Their Host to promis'd Canaan led Then Iacob was thy rescu'd Race Distinguish'd by peculiar marks of Grace Their Happiness and Honour to advance He chose them for his own Inheritance With whom alone their gracious God Would make his Residence and blest abode They were from Heav'n instructed to adore Their God and with Celestial Light Canaan was blest as Goshen was before While all their Neighbours lay involv'd in Night God the Foundations of their Empire laid The Model of their Constitution made He on their Throne their King in Person sate And rul'd with equal Laws the Sacred State For this blest purpose Iacob's Seed Was from Egyptian Bondage freed When God to do this wondrous work was pleas'd Great Consternation Nature seiz'd The restif Floods refus'd to flow Panting with Fear the Winds could find no Breath to blow Th' astonish'd Sea did motionless become Horror its Waters did benumb The briny Waves that reer'd themselves to see Th' Almighty's Judgments and his Majesty With Terror crystaliz'd began to halt Then Pillars grew and Rocks of Salt Iordan as soon as this great Deed it saw Struck with a reverential Aw Started and with Precipitation fled In hast the thronging Waves ran backward to their Head Vast Hills were mov'd from out their place Terror the Mountains did constrain To lift themselves from off their Base And on their rocky Roots to dance about the Plain The little Hills astonish'd at the Sight Flew to the Mother Mountains in a fright And did about them skip as Lambs Run to and bleat around their trembling Dams What ail'd thee O thou troubled Sea That thou with all thy watry Troops didst flee What ail'd thee Iordan tell the cause
Monarch's Throne Their Forts with 〈◊〉 shall be overgrown And mossy Turf shall cover every Stone Their gilded Roofs shall lodge the Bat and Owl And in their lofty Rooms of State Where cringing Sycophants did wait Dragons shall hiss and hungry Wolves shall howl In Courts before by mighty Lords possest The Serpent shall erect his speckled Crest Or fold his circling Spires to rest The long-neck'd Gyant of the feather'd Kind The Ostrich there a sandy Nest shall find Leopards and all the rav'ning Brotherhoods That range the Plains or lurk in Woods Each other shall invite to come And make this wilder Place their home Fierce Beasts of every frightful shape and size Shall setle here their bloody Colonys Satyrs shall to their Fellows cry advance Let us to Edom's Land make hast 'T is a silent lonesome Wast There let us dwell there let us sport and dance The Screech-Owl thither shall direct her flight With all the Hooping Horrors of the Night There they shall build their Nests and breed Their Eggs they 'll unmolested lay There o'er their Young their Wings display And there the gaping Callow Monsters feed The Vultures there and all the Eagle Kind Shall rendezvous o'erjoy'd to find A perfect desolation to their Mind THE xlth Chap. of Isaiah PARAPHRAS'D YE Prophets who divine Credentials bear Distinguish'd by your Sacred Character Envoys and Agents who by my Command Reside in Palestina's Land To whom Commission I have giv'n To manage there the Interests of Heav'n Ye holy Heralds who proclaim Or War or Peace in mine your Master's Name Let my desponding People know That I their God will mitigate their Woe Tell them Compassion melts my Heart That I of punishing Repent And that their bleeding Wounds and Smart Which my own hand inflicted I Lament Comfort Ierusalem and cry The time of her Deliverance is nigh Say her Offences I 'll forget Nor more my scourging Strokes repeat Her Suffrings and her Servitude shall cease And from Oppression I 'll her Sons release Th' Allarms of War she shall no longer hear No more Assyrian Armys fear She shall enjoy uninterrupted Ease Gather'd beneath the downy Wings of Peace The Suff'rings she has undergone Abundantly my Wrath for all her Sins atone Hark! What a loud Majestic sound What awful Accents from the Hills rebound Listen with Rev'rence Hark! the noise Grows more distinct 't is the commanding Voice Of one that in the Desart crys Let all the Nations round arise Ye Pioneers of Heav'n prepare a Road Thro' the pathless Wilderness Make it plain and strait and broad And let your Shouts your Joy express Th' obstructing Groves and Forrests level lay And for th' Almighty make a way For he in Person will his People head And out from Babylon his rescu'd Captives lead He will from Heav'n descend to free The Nations from Infernal Slavery He 'll bring them out by Miracles of Might From Pagan Darkness to Celestial Light Sink every Mountain every Hill And with their Ruins every vally fill Smooth every rugged rocky place And every narrow Deâ—ile enlarge For God this way in Triumph means to pass As he from Babylon conducts his Charge Make an open easy way Where God his Glory may display For the Divine Deliverer Will on his March in Majesty appear His high Perfections he 'll reveal and shew Th' astonish'd World what Wonders he can do That he 'll effect this mighty Work the Lord Has giv'n his never-failing Word Th' Almighty bid his Prophet say All Men are subject to decay And wither like the Grass away To every Storm or Blast they yield And fade like Flowers that paint the Field But the Almighty's Word shall stand secure And like himself for ever shall endure O Zion whose impending airy Brow Surveys the Hills as well as Vales below The joyful Tydings thou hast got impart To raise my People's drooping Heart Lift up thy Voice and let the Ecchoing sound From Wood to Wood from Hill to Hill rebound And ring thro' all the Vales and all the Towns around Cry with a loud and fearless Voice Let all thy Cities Palestine rejoyce Your sinking Heads ye Towns of Iudah reer Behold your God your great Deliverer In Person to your Aid advances near See where th' Almighty Conq'rour takes the Field In his strong Hand what Terrors does he wield How dreadful are his Steps how bright his Sword and Shield See how the Forrests at his Presence bow How silently the Rivers flow How do the Plains thro' which he marches smoke How do the troubled Mountains rock He needs the Aid of no Confed'rate Pow'r His single Arms will Victory ensure He brings to crown the Just a bright Reward And for the Wicked Vengeance has prepar'd He as a faithful Shepherd will attend His Flock with tender Care and condescend To carry in his Arms the Feeble Lambs And gently lead the pregnant Dams His People in his Word may rest secure For Boundless as his Mercy is his Pow'r In the wide hollow of his Hand may sleep All the collected Waters of the Deep Let all the Rivers too be thither roll'd The vast Abyss will yet more Seas and Rivers hold His Span across the widest Heav'ns can stretch And the vast Void beyond 'em over-reach The Rocks and Hills he in a Ballance lays And high amid'st the Air th' uplifted Mountains weighs This Globe when held in his Capacious Hand Seems a small Atome or a single Sand. When God the Draughts of Heav'n and Earth design'd And form'd the noble Platform in his Mind Did any skilful Architect Help him his wondrous Model to correct When he the World's Foundations laid And rais'd the lofty Pillars with his Hand To give him or Advice or Aid Did any Wise Surveyor by him stand Did he from any Counsel need How in Creation to proceed When by a thousand Wonders wrought His vast Design was to perfection brought What Councellour of State did him instruct The World his Creature to conduct Who taught him how the Universe to sway And form the Maxims of his Government To settle Nature in a stedy Way And all destructive Uproar to prevent How where ten thousand Creatures disagree To make their Motions end in perfect Harmony How with unerring Methods to pursue The glorious Ends he had at first in view God does the Nations of the World regard As a small drop with the vast Deep compar'd Or Dust that in the Ballance gives no Weight To press the Scale and change its equal State God by their rocky Roots takes up the Hills And from their Oazy Beds the Isles He hurls them from their former Seat As things of neither Bulk nor Weight O Lebanon whose spacious Head Is with aspiring Cedars spread With Wood sufficient is thy Forrest stor'd Or can it Beasts enough afford For a Burnt off'ring for all Nature's Lord Against him should the Nations rise He would neglect their weak alarms This wretched Host of Worms he would despise And laugh at
advanc'd from lofty Teman's Head And o'er the Plains of Paran came The Heav'ns around were with his glory spread And Wonders on the Earth his Presence did proclaim He did the Marks of Majesty display And fearful Ensigns of Omnipotence Ten thousand Prodigys prepar'd his way Such Power th' Almighty did dispence Torrents of Glory dazling bright Too fierce and keen for Humane Sight Broke from th' immense Abyss of uncreated Light Ev'n from his Hands a bright Eruption came A pointed Efflux of Immortal Flame Transcendant Splendor did th' Almighty shroud No less than did the thick surrounding Cloud His Being thus lay hidden either way In too much Darkness or in too much Day Of thirsty panting Plagues a fiery Train Pale Pestilence and yelling Pain His dreadful Equipage before him ran And of his Terrors led the Van. While Famine Desolation and Despair Wringing their Hands and tearing off their Hair A formidable Troop came howling in the Reer Th' Almighty on the Frontiers made a stand To measure out the promis'd Land He did distinctly circumscribe Th' Inheritance of every Tribe That done the Nations he asunder drove And march'd the Lords of Canaan to remove His swift-wing'd Whirlwinds onward flew And o'er the Hills his Chariot drew Whose awful Wheels roll'd on in Clouds and Smoke Whence Flakes of Fire and flashing Lightnings broke Such Bolts were cast such Thunder claps did roar As shook the Rocks which never shook before The shudd'ring Hills exprest their dread And everlasting Mountains bow'd their aged Head When Isr'el march'd o'er dry Arabia's Sand By Moses led to Canaan's Land How were the States on either side At their approach alarm'd and terrify'd How did the Tents of Cushan shake How did the Kings of Midian quake How did they dread the Fame of Isr'el's God And his great Gen'ral's wonder-working Rod That Rod which turn'd to Crystal Walls the Flood Its Virtue still retains And in the trembling Heathens Veins Chills and congeals their Vital Streams of Blood Did e'er the Rivers God displease Or did his Anger rise against the Seas That he their Waters did divide And roll'd them up on Heaps on either side When he prepar'd his warlike Equipage His Chariots and his Horse King Pharoah to engage No those amazing Miracles were shown To make his kindness to his People known His Chariots and his Horsemen brought Salvation to the Tribes for whom he fought He did his fatal Bow prepare And all his dreadful Instruments of War Which put the Pagan Lords to flight And from their Country chas'd the Cananite Thus to his Promise God was true Which to the Tribes he did so oft renew As Israel's Host advanc'd to Canaan's Land Opprest with drought amidst the Sand. Refreshing Streams were in the Desart found And bubbling Springs broke from the thirsty Ground Instead of Fire th' Almighty struck Fresh Water from the Flinty Rock When God in Triumph did appear The lofty Mountains shook for fear Iordan held back his cleaving Flood And high in Craggy Heaps the Crystal Waters stood Bare and defrauded of its Tyde The sandy Chanel lay from side to side This Passage for the Tribes th' Almighty did provide Th' obsequious Deep did raise its roaring Voice And split asunder with prodigious noise It shew'd as if by lifting up the Hand It 's Readiness t' obey the high Command At God's command the restless Sun That as a Gyant loves his Course to run Did in his full Carreer his Chariot stay On Heav'ns Descent and stopt the falling Day Progressive Time was at a stand His drooping Wings unable to expand The Constellations and th' astonish'd Moon Halted to gaze upon the standing Sun So long its ling'ring Orb its Light did lend As Ioshuah's Troops had Spears to spend As long as they had Darts to cast away Or there remain'd a Foe to slay In Indignation God thro' Canaan past And with his terrible alarms And Conq'ring Arms He chas'd the Kings and laid the Nations wast Isr'els Salvation to compleat He onward march'd the Heathen to defeat To save his People and to crown Great Iosua's Arms with Triumph and Renown To Canaan's Kings he gave a deadly Wound And did their Friends and Familys confound He overthrew their Palaces Th' Imperial Seats of Pride and Wickedness He broke the Pillars that sustain'd their weight And raz'd the strong Foundations of their State God did by Isr'el's Arms subdue Their Towns and all their Villages o'erthrew Tho' at the first the Nations round arose And like a Tempest did our March oppose They onward came with Shouts of Joy As sure the Tribes they should destroy They did our Army so much slight They thought they came to Plunder not to fight O Israel in despight of these alarms In spite of all their Plots and Arms Thou with thy Conq'ring Sword didst make thy way From Iordan's Flood to the great Western Sea Thus for the Tribes th' Almighty did appear Once to their God his People were so dear But now he threatens to employ Assyrian Arms his People to destroy For this my Blood hangs curdled in my Veins And strong Convulsions rend my tortur'd Reins My Bones all rattle in their rocking Frame And in my Heart Fear damps the Vital Flame Horror my Spirits does possess Nor can my quiv'ring Lips one perfect word express I Tremble now and Weep and Mourn That when the sad amazing Turn Shall happen and the gloomy Day Of Vengeance all its Terrors shall display Safe from the Tempest I may find Peace in my House and Comfort in my Mind I 'll to th' Almighty's Mercy fly And on his faithful Providence rely When Babylon's insulting King Shall all his fierce and numerous Armys bring Armys to Blood and Rapine bred To pull down Isr'el's lofty Head And dreadful Desolation o'er our Citys spread And then tho' Famine should invade Tho' Plants and Flow'rs and Fruits should fade Tho' on the Vine no Clusters should appear And tho' the Fig-tree should no Blossoms bear Tho' th' Olive yields not to the Dresser Oyl And barren Fields defeat the Farmer 's toyl Tho' the high Folds no bleating Flocks surround And in the Stalls no lowing Heards are found Yet I 'll rejoyce in God my sure defence And in his Strength repose my Confidence Still will I trust him still I will believe That he will Isr'el's Captive State retrieve That to our Country he 'll our Sons restore And rescue them from Babylonish Pow'r FINIS
flaggy Wings and lights upon my Eyes Visions and Dreams compos'd of frightful Air The drowsy Stranger from my Eye-lids scare Therefore my Soul does quick Deliv'rance ask From tedious Life's unsufferable Task Life I abhor let me alone to Dye Why should I still in ling'ring Torments lye Why does Coy Death from my Embraces fly Why should I Live Was I from Pain releast Life 's but a vain and empty Name at best O what is Man What is the Hope and Trust Of a poor piece of ill-cemented Dust What is the Wight that God should condescend To try his Strength and with him should contend Wilt thou such Honour on a Wretch bestow Is he or worth thy Notice or thy Blow Wilt thou thy Power against a Worm engage Is Man a proper Object of thy Rage But if thou scourgest with a kind Intent And thy sharp Strokes are for Correction meant To make the Suff'rer thy just Laws obey And to reduce the Wand'rer to his way Still what is Man that every Day his God Should both Chastise and Guide him with his Rod That he should Wound his Flesh to heal his Mind Beneficent in Wrath and in Displeasure Kind Lord spare a Wretch that has not long to live Some easie Minutes some short respite give I own my Guilt and my Offences blame Delug'd in Tears and overwhelm'd with Shame What shall I do thy Favour to regain Can I implore th' Allmighty's Aid in vain Whose gracious Power does all Mankind sustain In deeds of Kindness thou dost most rejoyce Chast'ning is forc'd but Mercy is thy choice Why hast thou set me as a Mark to stand Against the Darts of thy resistless Hand Which so much gaul my fest'ring Flesh that I Would lay my Life my Burden down and dye Forgive of all my Guilt the mighty Debt Remember Mercy and my Sin forget CHAP. VIII Then Bildad How long wilt thou the Bounds of Patience break And thus absurdly and perversly speak How long shall thy Reproaches Heav'n Arraign Does the least Spot Eternal Justice stain Why does thy Passion 's Tyde its Bank o'erflow Why dothy Words like Winds Tempestuous grow Does God Deceit to Sacred Truth prefer Rather than Iob must God be thought to err Iâ— thy Rebellious Children did provoke Th' Allmighty's Wrath and felt his Vengeful stroke Iâ— thou his Perfect Justice would'st adore Iâ— thou his Mercy humbly would'st implore And to thy Pray'r joyn Purity of Heart For thy Support he would his Power exert His Blessings yet would Crown thy righteous Ways And thou in Peace might'st pass thy prosp'rous Days Tho' thou art Poor and despicably low Thy Substance should increase and vastly grow And Wealth around thee would profusely â—low Consult thy Fathers look on Ages back Turn o'er the Rolls of Time and strict enquiry make We are of no Experience no regard When with our long-liv'd Ancestors compar'd Those Venerable Heads will give thee Light In this Debate and set thy Judgment right They 'll from repeated Observation shew That all the Maxims we advance are true Ev'n as a Rush that in a Wat'ry Mead With hasty growth reers its presumptuous Head In its chief Verdure withering away Prevents the Mower by a swift decay The Plants that once with Envy on him gaz'd Stand at this unexpected Change amaz'd So shall the Beauty of the Wicked fade Who to endure has no Foundation laid His swelling Hopes in their high Tyde shall ebb His Trust is weaker than a Spider's Web. He on his House shall lean a fruitless Prop His House will sink and disappoint his Hope Will he on Servants and his Wealth depend Servants and Wealth their Lord shall not defend Tho' he to Heav'n should raise his shady head And his thick Branches o'er the Garden spread Should he beneath the Summer's burning Ray Continue Green which makes the Rush decay Should all his interweaving Roots around Embrace the Stones in firm and solid ground Could he deride the Winds that him invade And Tempests with their Impotence upbraid Did he thus stand secure from Storms and Heat Proud of the Strength and Beauty of his Seat He shall his suddain Extirpation Mourn Fell'd by the Axe or else by Thunder torn Compleat Destruction shall all marks efface And all Remains that might confess his place The ground shall no discov'ring Footsteps shew Nor neighb'ring Trees remember where he grew No other milder Fate or happier End Shall all his Pomp and prosp'rous Pride attend He shall be rooted up and in his Ground No fruitful Plant shall be hereafter found But neighb'ring Trees shall thrive that stand around His God will ne'er the Perfect Man reject Nor may the Wicked e'er his Aid expect Hence Iob thy want of Virtue does appear That God abandons thee to thy Despair But this is certain if thou wilt not mourn Offences past and to thy God return Utter Destruction shall thy Ways attend But if convinc'd thou wilt thy Errors mend He shall thy former Joy and Power restore Encrease thy Friends and multiply thy Store Till Songs and Shouts thy great Delight attest And mighty Joy extends thy lab'ring Breast Those who revil'd thee and thy Dwelling curst Shall blush with Shame with Indignation burst When they shall see thy Happy Days restor'd And greater Wealth and Honour on thee pour'd Mean time resistless Ruin shall efface The Wicked Man and all his impious Race CHAP. IX Then answer'd Iob. This Sacred Truth I own That God has still unblemish'd Justice shown Nor can a Man his Innocence defend If with him God should in Debate contend What Reasonings e'er he offers in dispute Man of a thousand could not one Confute He 's Wife in Heart and guides all Nature's Ways And at a View the Universe surveys The Heart he searches with his piercing Eye And bubbling Thoughts does in their Spring descry Unfinish'd Notions in the Mind he sees And the rude Lines of half-drawn Images He views the Spark that first our Bosom fires And the first struggling of unborn Desires He from the Hills of Time looks down to see The boundless Vale of dark Futurity He sees all Ages from Duration's Deep Come rolling on and how they Order keep All things he sees in Time's Capacious Womb And turns the Annals o'er of Years to come He sees each Chance and every future Turn And reads the Lives of Monarchs yet unborn He views Events that in their Causes lye And sees Effects in Nature's Energy He minds our Ways and to his clearer Sight Those Paths are crooked which we thought were right His Strength proportion with his Wisdom shows Fit to Protect his Friends and Crush his Foes Who with Success did e'er his Arm oppose Hills with their Woods when his fierce Anger burns He from their Seat amidst the Vally spurns He turns up Mountains Roots against the Sky And from his Wrath the Rocks find Wings to fly He makes the Earth with strong Convulsions shake Her Pillars start and their old Base forsake Vast