was every 〈◊〉 qualified for his station But this mighty preâ—erment soon contracts an uniâ—versal Eâ—vy upon him from those whose dim Eye could nâ—t see or whose cankâ—â—ed Spirits would noâ— weigh his merits in a Righteâ—â—s Sâ—ale The Hiâ— of Hâ—nour iâ— dangerously troâ— though by neveâ— so â—air and meritoriâ—us Feâ—t Envious Men hatâ— to aâ—knowleâ—ge a worth beyond their own and looâ— with a squint Eye on all above themselves The proâ—motion that fâ—lls not â—n their own Heads grieveâ— their Hearts anâ— iâ— plotted against Yet safely may the Heavenly Aspirer fix hâ—â— steps while he has no Competitor to contend witâ— him and few are emuloâ—s of the Celestial Crown The four and twenty â—lders may pass an Eternitâ— e'ro any below disturb their Honours while weaâ—â— Eyes wax sore at the sight but of a Coroneâ—â— though Darius himsâ—lf had stuck it on They sougâ—t to find occâ—sion c. And methinks fancy them sitting in â—lose Consult â—gainst him anâ— ransacking every Inâ—h of his Life and Manners Nâ— an unâ—â—r-Officer but is brought in and strictly exâ—â—min'd upon Oath if possibly the lâ—ast defect migâ—â— be found in his Managements or Accounts And peâ—â—hâ—ps the very Attendants of his Family Brib'd 〈◊〉 Menac'd into an unreserved conâ—ession and disclâ—â—sure of the dayly Customs of his House nay 〈◊〉 those of his very Oratory and Bed-chamber 〈◊〉 must the freedom of his Table â—e allowed him uâ—â—purgeâ— â—f probably even there but a Syllable migâ—â— escape him which may be Aâ—tificially interpretâ— into Treason or wrench'd but into the misprisâ—â— of it or but any thing which might bear the leaâ— shadow or Reflection of dishâ—nour or damage to tâ—â— great Pâ—rson Dignity or Intâ—rest of his Royâ—â— Master But when now after all this nothing is squeezâ— out that can though but colourâ—bly charge him how do they fret and vex and are ready to indict even his Care and his Caution And are vext that they want Eyes to penetrate into the vâ—ry recesses of his Soul For it may be there might sculk some Trayterous and Disloyal thought which gladly would they tear out from his Heart and produce in evidence against him But if even that he White and Innocent too they again wax mad and curse his very Loyalty and Truth and could wiâ—h that his Snowy Innocence would take a Crimson Dye and be though but superficially Criminal They â—ought occasion but could find none forasmuch as he was â—aithful Neither was there any errâ—ur or fault found in him Chap. 6.4 But now what a plague is it to envy innocence and â—o make anothers Health ones own Disease Is the thine Eye evil because mine is Good Yet for ever â—e it remarqu'd to the Honour of â—hese eager Conspirators that the height of this â—eavourish rage did not distemper them into the â—istraction of perjurious Revenges nor the detestâ—ble contrivances of Subornation against Daniel They will not Damn Souls to destroy Bodies Their â—ery Heathen Consâ—iences boggled at that Hellish â—ractice And now very despair make these Plotters witty â—hey altâ—r the measuâ—es of their Counsels And â—â—nce nothing can be discovered defective in his alleâ—iance to his Prince they will weave a Net that â—hall ensnare him in the exactness of his obâ—dience â—o his God Hiâ— very Devotions shall be twisted â—â—to a Cord tâ—at shall stranglâ— him And if he dare â—y serviâ—â— to â—is Mâ—ker even that shall be High â—reason agâ—inst his King And to sâ—ve â—hem the laâ—our hâ— shâ—ll 〈◊〉 â—imâ—â—lf â—nto the Grâ—ve For 〈◊〉 thâ—se men wâ— shâ—ll find nâ— oâ—â—â—sion against this â—aniel except we find it agâ—iâ—st him concerning the â—â—w of his God verse 5. But I would wish no greater Judgment upon Plotters than to find them bending their Wits against Heaven whiâ—h is ever engaged to destroy them fâ—r its own security and Honour Nor can an Arrow be shot against Piety without hitting God himself direcâ—ly in the Face Since all that is in the Worlâ— is but his reflection upon the Soul and he is as much in one Beam or Ray of his Holyness that shines in the Creature below as in the whole Sun of it that makes Glory above The Malicâ— that wounds a Saint would destroy the Deity if it could How do I see them Chuckle and â—less their Wits in this new contrivanâ—e A Plot so exquisitely woven that there is no room for so much as the least fear or jealousie of its miscarriage and failure They question not the success in the least Daniel must turn Atheist to prevent the danger and forsake his God or his Life Projecting Heads may Plot together and jumble out a decree of Death Yâ—t to as little Reputation or Issue as a Club of Physicians that vote that disease to be Mortal which Heaven cures by a â—igg The Decree is universally agreed on by Daniels Enemies And the Monarch address'd for his Royal Aâ—â—ent They Enact him a God by Law upon Earth and make it Death to acknowledge another in Heaven They put a trouble upon hiâ— to receive all the addresses of Men and 〈◊〉 thirty Holy-dayes for all his fellow Deities to reâ—t iâ— Whosoever shall ask â— Petition of any God â—r Man fâ—r thirty Dayes save of thee O Kinâ— c. vers 7. Dâ—rius consults not his Cabal to unriddle this Flattery in his Noâ—les muâ—h less dâ—e he apprehend any treacherous design in the bottom but is willing to interpret it pure Loyalty and a Politick advance of his Glory and greater security in his Empire now at his first approaches uâ—to it and therefore easily inclines to the proffered Honour and since they will have it so is content to justle out his Maker from his Throne for a Month. Therefore God punish'd his rash and unadvised Folly and Pride whose hand Signs the Decree which afterwards makes his Soul to Ake and because he did not sleep on 't a-non cannot and endanger'd the breaking his Heart as well as his sleep The Sagacious Daniel quiâ—kly penetrates through this shallow desigâ— He easily sees the Warrant for his own Execution written on the back-side of this plausible Deâ—ree yet will not prevent it His great Soul bids defiance to it and them that fram'd it He scorns to live when he â—annot serve his God yâ—t will serve him though he dye for it He will not neglect his Duty for thirty dayes togâ—ther no not to save his Blooâ— But râ—solves rather to pass into Immortality to serve him there The King having pass'd the Law The Trepanners begin to sâ—eak about Dâ—niâ—ls Lodgings Malice degenâ—rateâ— them into Eveâ—-â—roppers they creep up and down unâ—er his very Winâ—ows If the Casement chance to sâ—ye open the project thrivâ—s their hopes swell and the Blood capers in their Veins And he brave Spirit opens it on purpose to let them see and know that he dreaded not their impious Law nor would slack an Aâ—e of his dayly Zeal and devotion to his God and thiâ— he diâ— When he knew that the Writing
to thy Royal Person so muâ—h Veneâ—â—tion anâ— respect to all thy Laws 〈◊〉 he is th◠〈…〉 Ungâ—â—tâ—ful man thâ—t he is whom 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 thou hast 〈…〉 whose very weight 〈…〉 in hiâ— Loyâ—lty 〈…〉 thâ—â—â—he suâ—limity 〈…〉 into foâ—ly too he 〈…〉 other Goâ— as if â—â—ou O King weâ—t not 〈◊〉 enough for him who hast been so kind and Royal to him Never has the largeâ—se of Princely Bounty 〈◊〉 unluckily miâ—carried by ingâ—atitude and Treachery which dares be so insolent to give so pernicious an Exâ—mple of first Violating that Law which he should have valued infinitâ—ly dearer than his Life and rather than have prostituted it to 〈◊〉 Coâ—â—empt should have 〈◊〉 the warmâ—st Blood of hiâ— Hâ—art to itâ— Glory We pray therefore that he may Suffer the Pains and Penalties of the Irrevocaâ—â—â— Decree he has so Prophanâ—ly despisâ—d may râ—ceive the just Râ—compâ—â—se of his hâ—ughty Râ—bellion and Pride Be thrown to the Lyons Now is the King almost dead with sorrow the fatal News mâ—re wounds his Royal Heart than the Pâ—iâ—oners The King himself suffers in this Plot and is persecuted in the Captive and now is basely betrayed to sign the Decree which Seals his own vexation and trouble For 't is they and not Daniel were guilty of the Treason agâ—inst his Royal tranquility and peace Unhappy Daniâ—l to bâ— so lov'd and so hated so pa sionately lov'd by Darius so universally 〈◊〉 by his Nobles Hereâ—â— nâ—t one of all the Peers hâ—s a pitty for thee they joyâ—â—ly address for thy 〈◊〉 Executiâ—n Nâ—minâ— Coâ—tradicentâ— The King singly demures and while he does so they impâ—tientlâ— adâ—râ—ss a second time and had not so â—â—â—â—â—erously 〈◊〉 hitheâ—to now to 〈◊〉 theiâ— Plot to perish in â—mâ—rio 〈◊〉 makes them foâ—â—â—et good mannâ—rs they 〈…〉 and uncourly 〈◊〉 O Kiâ—â— that the Lâ—wâ— the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 it that no Decrâ—e nor 〈◊〉 which the King 〈…〉 v. 15. q. 〈◊〉 We have 〈…〉 a Bâ—y 〈◊〉 Reâ—el may noâ— be pardoned tâ—e Laws of tâ—y Kingdom will not bear it tho thou wouldst therefore in vain dost thou labour to â—eliver him for dye he must and shall But now metâ—â—nks how do I see the great Darius hugging him in his Aâ—ms whilst he beholding him as he fears with his last Eyes breaths out his very Heart to him in such dear Expressions as these Daniel my dearest Daniâ—l the brightest Star that ever illustrated a Princes Court the faithfullest Servant that ever bless'd a Master the very Glory and Flowâ—r of my Kingdom and Palace who art passing up into those more glorious Mansions where only dwell suâ—h Spirits as thine Thou wiâ—t no more envy the toys of Regality nor need the aiery Honours of an Earthly Palace I am distreâ—sed foâ— thee my dearest Daniel how willingly could I uncloath my self from these vain Badges of Majesty to pass into Spirit with thee But â—tay may not thy God meet thee in the Den as I have heard Shaâ—rach's did him in the Furnace and methinks I have Faith to believe he will and least thine Enemies should think so too and send in Russians more cruel than the Beasts to destroy thee my care shall obviate that danger while I Seal thee up under the Protection of Heaven and thy God How stately passes the Captive 〈◊〉 the Den richlâ— laden with the Trophâ—â—â— of his Princes affections and the graces of his God! He leaves nothing behind him thâ—â— he should take to Heaven with him but the thought â—f Revenge A Dialogical Discourse between Adonibezeck and one of the 60 Kings he tormented and kept under his Table The Discourse supposed to be in the other World The Argument The mighty King the Tyrant whose delight In tortures was who sixty Kings in spite Of Regal Pow'r that did their Brows adorn Maim'd and beneath his Table kept in scorn Is in like manner serv'd so fares it still With those that seek their fellow Creatures ill 〈◊〉 HOw now great Monarch by what fatal chance 〈◊〉 you from lights of splendid pomp advance 〈◊〉 these dull Regions how cut off by death 〈◊〉 you the sternest Tyrant of the Earth 〈◊〉 midst of all your Glories lose your breath â—don Torment me not in asking how I fell â—ow the Fates durst my Ambition Quell â—ing Know you not who I am know you not me â—don I know too well the dreadful shape I see â—â—ke it from mine Eyes I wou'd not know â—wou'd be known in these sad times of woe â—ing Yet pittyless you durst our patience prove 〈◊〉 cou'd our Tears nor Groans your Mercy move â—don 'T is true they cou'd not but I thought me then 〈◊〉 the blasting Fate of Vulgar men 〈◊〉 made me seem in heights to fly 〈◊〉 the reach of frail Mortality â—â—ng So we once thought yet all we urg'd was vain â—ou'd our Sighs when fallen ease our pain Adon. You were my Captives by fierce war so made Your Countrey 's mine by me in Ashes laid King 'T is true yet pitty in a Monarch's Breast Renowns him more pity to those opprest A God-like nature in Man-kind creates And Envy's Keen-soul piercing Shaft Rebates Adon. But then Compassion knew not my Abode Revenge and Fury waited on my Nodd My will was then my law Death mark'd my Frowns On whâ—m they bent there he bestow'd his wounds King Yet now too plain you see the God whose Eyes Into the darkest of Man's Secrets pryes Has found you out and by his chosen Seed Now made the Proud Adonibezeck bleed Adon. 'T is to my Shame and sad Confusion knowâ— As I have done to me so be it done In a base servitude a Mâ—narch dy'd Maim'd as he maim'd Crush't as he crush't the pride Of daring Mortals whom he made to stoop E're they his Towring Cedar cou'd o're-top King Just is thy plague thy punishment is comâ— And we with joy behold thy juster doom So fares it with all those that pityless Afflict their Brethr'n when in most distress Who proudly triumph over those they may And make a sport of them they make their Prey So may it fare with Tyrants so with those Whose Breast no mercy but fell rage Inclose Adon. My guilty Conscience wounds me Let that Revenge enough no more then torture me King Still still I 'le haunt you since the 〈◊〉 decree Your Fortune equal in our Misery Adon. I 'll shun you then my Soul no more can 〈◊〉 King Yet you unmov'd our sad laments cou'd 〈◊〉 Adon. 'T is true I did and scoff'd at all your 〈◊〉 â—lutting with your hard Fates my well pleas'd eyes King Then what can you expect but to indure Our hate and scorn who cou'd your self enure â—n prâ—sperous dayes to nought but cruelty Adon. That I 'll prevent for with swift wings I 'll fly To dismal shades of Night beyond your reach King In vain 's such flight your Walls can't now Impeach Our following fury now your Guards are gone No power to torture 's left Death has undone The knot of power and now like
Offerings The Lord of Hosts convenes the Heathen Powers To batter down aspiring Iacobs Towers Before their Swords the routed Hebrews fly And fill the Hills and Valleys with their cry The wicked Seed of the High Priest are sâ—ain And the tremendous Ark it self is ta'ne In which the Mighty God was pleas'd to dwell Before whose wrath so many Nations fell And now the bold insulting Foe as proud Of such a Trophie bare it shouting loud To the base Temple of their false feign'd God Compos'd of Gems of Gold and precious wood A stock inspir'd by an Infernal Fiend On whom they durst in Peace and War depend Ascribing to his power the great success Of their weak Arms and joyful words express When lo the fearful Fiend with hideous cries From his adored Idol swiftly flies Not daring view that Face which brightness shrouds The God whose Thunder rends the Marble clouds Who grasps the Poles and turns the Spears about Whose Eyes survey the Universe throughout Whose Anger kindled is so deadly great That Hell it self from it would fain retreat Had not strict Fate fast fix'd it in it's place With whom alone the Righteous can find Grace And now forsaken Dagon wreft of voice No answer gives from it proceeds no noise In vain his Priests enquire of Future things In vain the Prince his cur'st Oblation brings Deluding Satan bears perforce the shame And though aloud they call on Dagons Name Yet dares not the fate babling Daemon come Least he before his time receive his doom And with link'd Thunderbolts be driven back Or sunk fast chain'd into the flaming Lake But whil'st they rend their Threats their wooden God Begins to totter and most strangely nod Whereat affrighted the rude Rout recoil When down at last upon his Face he fell Yet up the foolish People rear again Their shame and folly yet 't is but in vain For e're the Sun review'd their wicked Coast The helpless Stock his Head and Hands had lost Whilst fearful Plagues his Worshipers dismay Who gladly send the holy Ark away Not daring keep what eagerly they sought Lest all their Land be to destruction brought On Dagon and the Ark. What news with Dagon Is thy shrine so hot Thou canst not keep it or has Dagon got The falling sickness that his godship's found In such a posture prostrate on the ground Poor helpless god but stay Is Dagon grown So weak i' th hams nor stand nor rise alone A god and cannot rise 'T is very odd He must have help or lie A proper god Well Dagon must require help of hands Up Dagon goes the second time and stands As confident as though his place had bin His own in Fee down Dagon falls again But Dagon's shrewdly martyr'd with the jump Lost Hands and Head and nothing left but stump Sure all 's not well with Dagon now of late He 's either sick or much forgot the State Belonging to so great a God hath none Offer'd some stinking Sacrifice or blown Some nauseous fume into his sacred Nose And made his Godship dizzy or who knows Perchance h 'as taken pet and will resign His sullen place and quit his empty shrine No wonder a false God should stoop and lye Upon the flour when as a true God's by It was unlikely Dagon should forbear Respite of Homage when the Ark was there If I would worship a false God at all It should be one that would not scorn to fall Before his Betters whose indifferent Arm If it could do no good could do no harm I 'de rather choose to bend my idle knee Of all false Gods to such a god as he Whose spirit 's not too quick The Fabulous Frog Found greater danger in the Stork than Log And to conclude I 'de choose him Dagon like Not having Head to plot nor Hands to strike Saul chosen King THe murmuring people who Gods Wonders saw And Glorious presence when he gave the Law In Peals of Thunder on the dreadful Mount Themselves unhappy in his Rule account And like their Neighbour Nations ask a King That may their Armies out to battel bring To which the Mighty God though griev'd consents Yet lets them know the sad and dire events Of their sad wish tells what their King shall do And that too late repentance wou'd insue Which to head-strong Israel prov'd too true But long they 're not debar'd of their desire â—ood Samuel marks them out what they require Confirming after many signs the Son Of Aged Kish a Benjamite well known By his huge Stature who for many years The Helm of Iacobs mighty Empire steers But not regarding who the Scepter Gave The Scepter giver does the Monarch leave Who long disparing did in Iacob dwell Till by his Sword on Gilboa he fell And scatter'd Israel felt the rage of those Who ever vow'd themselves their mortal Foes On Saul and David SUre Saul as little look'd to be a King As I and David dream'd of such a thing Aâ— much as he when both alike did keep The one his Father's Asses t'other Sheep Saul must forsake his Whip and David flings His Crook aside and they must both be Kings Saul had no sword and David then no spear There was none Conquer'd nor no Conqueror there There was no sweat there was no blood to shed The unsought Crown besought the Wearers head There was no stratagem no Opposition No taking parts no jealous Competition There needs no Art there needs no Sword tâ— bring And place the Crown where God appoints the King A Dialogue between Agag and Samuel The Argument Saul having spar'd the proud Amalekite Samuel is griev'd and when the Pagan quite Had banisht fear of Death to Death â—e's givâ—â— In order to appease offended Heaven Agag WWhat means the Prophet with 〈◊〉 stern Aspect to gaze upon a Monarchâ— misery suffices it not that my slaughterâ—d People â—at the Plains with streams of blood and that my burning Citys cloud the Lamp of Heaven with ascending smoak Samuel No haughty man 't is not enough the 〈◊〉 of Jacob is displeased with such small Vengeance Agag Then try to turn away his wrath with Sâ—â—crifice let ten thousand Altars blaze with fat 〈◊〉 Bulls and Rams the spoil that once belonged to Amaleks now fallen Sons Saul In vain thou urgest such abâ—mination such Sacrifices would be odious in the Nostrils of that God Who dwells between the Cherubims whose fâ—ercâ— wrath can be appeased with no less Sacrifice than thy curst Life Agag Ha my life why sure the fear of death is past now know you not that your King has promised Life Sa. I know him who in sparing you and your unlawful Spoils has made himself a Rebel to the King of Kings Agag Yet he 's your Lord and ought to be obeyed to him I appeal to him who has already sign'd my pardon Samuel In vain are all Appeals to Mortal Man when God the mighty God in whose strong Hands is all the Breath of Life has doom'd you dead
will hear no more but Thus become the messenger of your death Thus make a passage for yâ—ur Rebel-Soul Abs. O! I am slain my blood and Abners be â—pon your head that blood thou-hast-so â—â—sely sh sh shed Joab So I have cropt the bold aspiring Rebel in the â—lâ—om of all his glory and given peace to Israel Here â—ake him down and cast him in this deep pit the◠〈◊〉 his Carkass with a pile of massie stones that so 〈◊〉 memory may be forgot Conclusion The Captain slain the battel ceases strait The crooked Trumpets sound a still retreat Then word is sent the King of all that 's done Who full of grief sheds Royal Tâ—ars alone For his slain Son which makes the Conqu'rors steal Into the City and themselves conceal Till Ioabs threats oblige him to descend And comfort that did his life dâ—fend A Dialogue between Solomon and Pharoah's Daughter The Argument Old David dead King Solomon inthron'd Weds Egypts Princess in his â—wn abode Rich are they both in all that men approve But more than usual are they rich in Love Sol. THrice welcom to a Monarchs Arms my lovely Queen whose Eyes inlightened swarthy Egypts face and whose inchanting Beauties charm the heart of Solomon Queen My Lord you cannot love nor yet admiâ—â— me more than blushing I must own though with â— feeling joy my fancy feeds on you Sol. Then are we happy far above â—he reach oâ— Fate and may look down as from some Towerinâ— height and pity those that toil and labour foâ— ought leâ—s than Love Qu. 'T is that indeed my Lord that can best contriâ—butâ— to mans felicity for where it is absent nothiâ—â— but disorder and confusâ—â—n rule Sol. It is true my solace and my dear delight nor has the great establisher of my exalted Thronâ—â—een wanting to add this blessing to the rest 〈◊〉 with paternal care plac'd a Spring of Cordial◠〈◊〉 Essential Love in either breast Qu. A Spring indeed that flows with Nectar and Ambrosial Ioys more than our hearts are capable without overflowing to receive Sol. 'T is such a blessing Princes seldom meet with since their Eyes make not their choice but they are still forced to take their hopes of happiness on trust Qu. Although they are yet the great wise disposer of the worlds affairs so orders it that at first sight their hearts do mostly move in a sweet harâ—ony supplying the defect of tedious Courtship Sol. Then since Heavens Architect the glorious maker of the Universe has ordered all things equal to our wish whaâ— more remains but that with unpolluted Souls â—nd Bodies day â—y day we send up Tribute-praiseâ— and with all humility adore his goodness Qu. You know mâ— Lord what Gâ—ds the sons of Egypt worship I doubt noâ— but you have heard of Isis and Osiris who are dreaded through the Memphian Coast of seven horn'd Nilus hundred pointed plain Sol. With detestation I have heard them named and tremble to think that the Sons of Adam should still bâ— so sensless as to Worship Monsters or at most 〈◊〉 stooks iâ—spir'd bâ— Hellish fâ—eâ—ds Qu Aâ—e they no Gods then Sure it is I have heard thâ—m speak and tell sâ—range things Sol. Yeâ— as the magick â—owers of darkness have inspired Gâ—ds they aâ—e nâ—t but base deluding forms to blind the eaâ—â—e â—ulgar the advice of Egypts Magi. Qu. Who is it then that guâ—rds protects and guides us in our great affairs Sol. The glorious tremâ—â—dous Majesty of Heaven whose name is known in Israel who made the wonders that are every where beheld at whose brightness Angels vall their Faces and in whose hand is all the breath of Life the God who made the World of nothing and whose power shall raise us after dâ—ath and bring us if we trust in him to Mansions of eternal bliss where with Ages numberless we shall rejoyce and joyn in Chorus with the dazling Cherubims and Seraphims to sing hiâ— praise Qu. You tell me wonders such as never entred at my Ears but where does such transcendent excellency dwell What place is capable to shrowd such Majesty Sol. His dwelling is above all lights nor is he circumscribed for though Heavâ—n is his Throne and Earth his Footstool yet the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him he fills all places and communicates his bounty with a liberal hand to all his Creatures riding when he pleases on the Winds spread Wings and often makes the Deep his Chamber Clouds are his Pavilion and thick darkness is his secret place whilst his bright beaming Eyes behold the abstrusest things and pierce our secret thoughts Q. Wonderful and much amazing is what you relate nor could I er'e beleive that this vast Fabrick could so so many thousand years continue in perpetual Harmony unguided unsustained nor sinks it into my weak Breast â—hat Fate or chance rules all below but that each stand to the Law of over ruling Providence S. Your thoughts were not in vain were it possible that power that sacred essential Divinity would withdraw his care and his conduct by creaâ—ion so on would totter and the warring Elementâ—â—onfound the glorious Fabrick nay Heavens brighâ— Lamps would mix wâ—th Earths Impurity natures â—oncord then would break and all return to a conâ—used Chaos if not quite vanish into nothing when â—t was derived but let us at this time enquirâ— no further into these stupendious secrets but with â—oy and fear adorâ— the Lord of Lords the King of Kings Even Iacobs mighty God by whom through whom in whom all things were made preservâ—d and have continuance Q. My Lord shall be obeyed I 'll wade no furâ—her in these devious deeps but at an awful distance revere that dâ—zling brighâ—ness that essential good who shines so glorious in his creaâ—ures S. Observe what you have said and then expect for ever to be blest but now time calls away we must this moment to the House of high magnificence built to the honour of his Name who shakes Earth and rends the Clouds with Thunder before whose face when wrath goes a consuming fire to burn up Rebel Atheists that disown his power Q. My Lord I gâ—e and from this day shall make it my chief Care to contemplate him and his mighty wonders and next to admire the man I love Conclusion The promise holds not with the feeble Sex For with strange Gods she soon does Iacob vex Causing the Heart of Solomon to stray Where Wisdom dwelt and sometimes lose his way The Iustice and Magnificence of King Solomons Court Bold Adonija's hasty Treason dash't And all his hopes when but in Embrio pashâ— Old David sees his Son anointed King And to the Throne they him no sooner bring But executing his dead Fathers will Ioabs and Shimei's blood his Sword does spill The Harlots case decides wise Solomon And gets renown no sooner was this done But at hiâ— câ—oisâ— Wisdom and Honour stand With Riches more than Avarice can command But the two last as fading things he cast Behind his back
was sign'd vers 10. 'T was below his great Person and Spirit to deny or dissemble his Religion Faith and Love makes him trusty to it against all Conspiracies of Men or Deâ—vils And what know we but some were so impudent as to steal up Stairs and peep through the very Key-hole to discover but the first motion towards a Genuflection But when those Sacred joynts incline to bend to the resolved Worship how greedily do they suck in the very first Spiration and preparatory â—ighs But brave Belshazzar how little do we know what various Passions agitate thy Sacred Breast at this time What contests between Nature and Grâ—â—e â—lesh and Spirit Or wer 't thou all Soul and transported beyond the cares and remembrance of thy Moâ—tal and suâ—fering part that I hear thee 〈◊〉 iâ—to suâ—h Rapâ—ures as theâ—e Whaâ— aâ—d must I forsâ—ke my God now or not Live and forsâ—ke him too upon such unhappy Terms as thâ—se to gratifie the wishes of these malicious conâ—ederating Heathens Is Devotion become fatal and must Praâ—er it self kill Cannot I go to my God but the next stâ—p must be to the Grave 'T is worse than Dâ—ath to live â—ut one day without him who iâ— the Life of my Soul how then shâ—ll I live thirty Must I wâ—ar thes◠〈◊〉 upon minâ— affections and â—ips which thâ—se Menâ— envy and canâ—ing hâ—ve clapt on me with design to enslave me fâ—r ever Râ—ther let 〈◊〉 Beasts tear â—pâ—n a paâ—sage for this Captive within me 〈◊〉 pâ—ss into thâ— liberties of eâ—erlâ—stingness than thus to bâ— Cag'd up in so insufferable a Vâ—ssalage Do they think to immure up my Soul Let thâ—m râ—nâ— me from the Court of Daâ—iuâ— my Heaven is not there as is â—â—eirs my Bodâ— is the Kings to his pleasure and service but my Soul is Gods unto his 〈◊〉 venture an inâ—â—rgâ—ment into the Bowels of the Lioâ—s e're they shall â—lâ—ry over mine Apâ—stacy from my Religion and my God But hold whither does this Noble but Temerarious Zeal transport thâ—e Daniel Is this thâ— kindness to thy dearest self Anâ— hast thou no regard to the Glorious and sweets â—f Life Is that Holy Fire that devours its own Altar And callâ—st thou that Zeal that hurls thee into nothing and temps thee to an Annihilation Is Death so dâ—sireable and such a Death as will gratifie thine Enemies too Whose Mâ—lice will Feast it self on thy Ruines with greater Luxury than the Lyons Banquâ—t on thy Flesh What is this but to Execute the Plot against thine own Life which they cannot pâ—rfâ—ct without thee and will thy God thank thee for destroying thy sâ—lf and throwing â—way thy life for â— Nicety the Ceremony anâ— Carkâ—â— of Devotion which his Grace is so râ—ady to dispâ—nce with anâ— for so little â— time as a Mâ—nth too Is he not the Father of Spirits and regards more the Oratorâ— of a sigh than all the lusciouâ— Expr ssions of the Lips Vnâ—erstâ—nds he not the Language of the Soul â—nâ— hearkâ—ns to the very desires of the Humble Maist thou not Offer up the purâ—r Sacrifice from the sâ—cret Altar of a Flaming 〈◊〉 and be safe What an advantage hast thou to 〈◊〉 the Conspiracy by a Mental Devotion anâ— to Countermine the Villaâ—â—â—s of thâ—ir Cursed Policy by looking up thy Soul in its self Ah no! The brave Votâ—ry sâ—orns to compound with his God for his Life nor will save himself by so muâ—h as Latching the Door of his Lips he will not â—tiâ—le the vent of his Soul tho it self were sure to fly through it He will glorifie God with his speech tho he speak himself into Air he will not diâ—figure the Body of his Duty to save his own from mangling and would rather the Lyons should open their Mouths to swallow him than he by shutting up his to â—mprison his Zealand Affections He resolveâ— that his Mouth shall Confess unto God and the World â—hat his Heart believâ—th unto Salvation and while his Enemies were watching imagine this devout Supplicant thus pouring out his Soul unto God The Prayer GOD of my Soul and of my Bâ—ing the Glorious Iehoâ—â—h that 〈◊〉 everlastingness and humâ—lâ—st thy self to bâ—â—old the things that are in Heaven and Earth â—ear â—nd have mercy Thou art God alone and bâ—sides thee there is none else What is this Darius whom these mâ—n have blasphemously Exâ—ulted to Rob thee of thy Glory and Worship and 〈◊〉 a God of him that cannot help that cannot save â—â—rsâ—lf or others O Pardon their Sin And this they 〈◊〉 done with dâ—sign to Rob me too of this Glorious Liberty of Access to thee my God who art the very Life â—f my Soul and whose loving kindness is better than Life 〈◊〉 without whom Life is none at all They would shut 〈◊〉 from thy Presence but do not thou Opâ—n the Door 〈◊〉 thy Grace and my Soul that I mâ—y fly unto thee and 〈◊〉 these these mine Enemies lye in wait for my 〈◊〉 yet let me Praise thee with joyful Lips and Serve 〈◊〉 without fear What though they have decreed to 〈◊〉 away my life are not my Times in thy hand and â—ithout thee shâ—â—â—â—ot fall an hair from my Head O 〈◊〉 me a Faith beyond my Fear and a Courage beyond 〈◊〉 Malice that I may dye rather than disown thee 〈◊〉 Dâ—voting my self a Sacrifice to thy Glory may 〈◊〉 all the World know that thou Lord art the only God 〈◊〉 the Souls of thy Servanâ—s who put their 〈…〉 Râ—deem thy Church and People 〈◊〉 Noise interruptâ— him The 〈◊〉 cry out amain 〈…〉 Traitor aâ—aiâ—st our 〈◊〉 and his 〈◊〉 away with him to the Lyoâ—s Darius â—â—â—sâ—lf cannot savâ— hiâ— Thâ—se we may suâ—pose were the Evideâ— to Sweâ—r against him who could safely 〈…〉 without fear of Perjury that they hâ— making his Petitions to the God of Heaven and so breakiâ—g the Decree And now haâ— the Plot taken effect the Innoâ—ent man falls by the Councils of the Wicked 〈◊〉 art thou O Lord yet leâ— me talk with thâ—e of 〈…〉 Wherâ—fore dâ—th the 〈◊〉 of the Wicked prosper Wherâ—fore are â—hey happ◠〈…〉 Jer. 12.1 So foolish was I and ignorant Surely thou didst set them in slippery 〈◊〉 thou cast est them down inâ—o 〈…〉 are they brouâ—ht into Dâ—solâ—â—ion as in a 〈…〉 wiâ—h Terrours P â—l 73 1â— 19.22 Now may you see them troop together with jâ—y and speed to Darius Court where they subtiâ—â—y râ—peâ—t thâ— Coâ—â—entâ— of the Law to the King with a Cursed Pâ—licy of dâ—signing to oblige him to a sacred and inviolable observance of his own Eâ—ict e're ever they discover the Transgressor who they knew was so dear to him that for hiâ— sakâ— he might have straiâ—'d hiâ— Prerogative unto the length of a Paâ—don iâ—poâ—â—â—ble But having once oblig'd him by the honour of his Royal word to confirm the decrâ—e then they presume to produce the Indictment and thus Aâ—â—resâ— O King Live for Ever THat Daniâ—l who pretends so muâ—h Love anâ— Loyalâ—y