Psalme LXXVIII.
[My People, heare my VVords; I will unfold]
[Part 1.]
My People, heare my VVords; I will unfold
Darke Oracles, and VVonders done of old;
By our great Ancestors both heard and knowne,
Successively unto their Children showne;
VVhich we will to Posterity relate;
That People, yet unknowne, may celebrate
Gods Power, his Praise, and glorious Acts: since He
Will's this Tradition by divine Decree;
Vntill one Day shall give the World an end:
That all their hopes might on his Help depend.
Nor ever let his noble Actions sleep
In darke oblivion, but his Statutes keep.
Vnlike their rebell Sires, a stubborn Race;
VVho fell from God, nor sought his slighted Grace.
The Ephraimites, though expert in their Bowes,
Though arm'd, ignobly fled before their Foes:
Who vainly brake the Cov'nant of their God;
Nor in the wayes of his prescription trod,
Forgot his famous Acts, his Wonders shown
In Zoan, and the Plaines by Nile o'reflown.
He brought them through the bowels of the Floud;
The parted Waves like solid Mountaines stood.
By day with leading Clouds affords a shade;
By night a flaming Pyramis displaid.
Hard Rocks, He in the thirsty Deserts, clave,
And drink out of their stony Entrails gave:
Even from their barren sides the waters gusht,
And down in rivers through the vallies rusht.
Part. 2.
Yet still they sinn'd, and meat to satisfie
Their Lust demand, provoking the most High.
Blaspheming thus; Can God our wants redresse?
A Table furnish in the Wildernesse?
Though from the cloven Rocks fresh Currents drill,
Can he give bread? with flesh the hungry fill?
Thus tempted by their hourely murmurings,
He to his long retarded Wrath gives wings:
Their infidelity inrag'd the Just,
That would not to his sure Protection trust.
Who all the Curtaines of the Skies withdrew,
And made the clouds resolve into a dew.
With Manna, Food of Angels, Mortals fed;
And fill'd with plenty of cœlestiall Bread.
Then caus'd the early Eastern winds to rise,
And bade the dropping South obscure the Skies:
VVhence showres of Quailes descend; as thick as sand
On Sea-washt shores, or dust on Sun-dri'd Land;
VVhich fell among their Tents: They their delights
Injoy, and feast their deadly appetites.
For lo! while they those fatall Dainties chew,
And their inordinate Desires pursue;
The Wrath of God surpriz'd them, and cut down
The choice of all; even those of most renown.
Nor, by their owne mis-haps admonished,
Would they his Works believe, or Judgements dread.
So He their spirits quencht with daily feares;
In Vanity and Toile consum'd their yeares.
Part. 3.
But when by Slaughter wasted, the forlorn
Return'd, and sought Him in the early Morn:
They then confest, and said; Thou art our Tower,
Our Strength; alone protectest by thy Power.
Yet their slie Tongues did but their Souls disguise;
Full of deluding flatteries, and lies.
Their faithlesse hearts revolted from his VVill;
Nor ever would his just Commands fulfill.
How oft would He, whose Mercy hath no bound,
Their pardon signe! nor in their Sins confound!
How oft did He his burning wrath asswage!
How oft divert the furie of his Rage!
Consider'd them as flesh, in frailtie borne;
A passing Winde, that never can returne.
Yet still would they his sacred Lawes transgresse;
Provok'd him in th'unpeopled Wildernesse:
Confin'd the Holy One of Israel;
Against their Saviour frantickly rebell:
Forgetfull of his Power, nor ever thought
Of that Great Day, when from long Bondage brought.
His dreadfull Miracles to Ægypt knowne,
And Wonders in the Field of Zoan snowne.
The River chang'd into a Sea of blood;
Men faint for thirst, t'avoid th'infected Flood.
Huge swarmes of unknowne Flies display their wings,
Which wound to death with their invenom'd stings.
Loath'd Frogs even in their Palaces abound;
And with their filthy slime pollute the ground.
Part 4.
Their early fruits the Caterpillars spoyle:
And Grashoppers devoure the Plow-mans toile.
Long Vines with stormes their dangling burdens lost:
The broad-leav'd Sycamores destroi'd with frost.
Their Flocks beat down with Hail-stones, breathles lie:
Their Cattell by the stroke of Thunder die.
The Vengeance of his Wrath all formes of woes,
More Plagues, then could be fear'd, upon them throwes
VVhom evill Angels to their sinnes betray.
He to the Torrent of his Wrath gave way;
Nor would with man or sinlesse beasts dispense;
Shot by the Arrowes of his Pestilence.
Slew all the flower of Youth; their First-borne Sons;
There where old Nilus in seven Chanels runs.
But like a flocke of Sheepe his People led;
Safe and secure through Deserts, full of dread:
Even through unfathom'd Deeps: which part and close
Their tumbling waves to swallow their proud Foes.
Then brought them to his consecrated Land;
Even to his Mountaine purchas'd by his Hand.
Cast out the Giant-like Inhabitants;
And in their roomes the Tribes of Israel plants.
Yet they (ô most ingratefull!) falsifie
Their vowes, and still exasperate the most High:
Who in their faithlesse Fathers traces goe;
And start aside; like a deceitfull Bow.
Their Altars on the tops of Mountaines blaze,
VVhile they their hands to cursed Idols raise.
Part 5.
These objects fuell to his wrath affoord:
Whose Soule revolted Israel abhor'd.
The ancient Seat of Shiloh then forsooke;
Nor longer would that hated Mansion brooke.
His Arke even to Captivitie declin'd;
His Strength and Glorie to the Foe resign'd:
And yeelded up his People to the Rage
Of barbarous swords; nor would his wrath asswage.
Devouring flames their able Youth confound;
Nor are their Maids with Nuptiall Garlands crown'd.
Their Mitred Priests in heat of Battell fall;
No Widowes weeping at their Funerall.
Then as a Giant, folded in the Charmes
Of Wine and Sleepe, starts up, and cries, To armes:
So rous'd, his Foes behinde, Jehovah wounds;
And with Eternall Infamie confounds:
Yet would in Josephs Tents no longer dwell;
Nor Ephraim chose, who from his Cov'nant fell:
But Judahs Mountaine for his Seat elects;
And sacred Sion, which he most affects.
There our great God his glorious Temple plac'd,
Firme as the Centre, never to be ras'd.
And from the bleating Flockes his David chose,
When he attended on the yeaning Ewes;
And rais'd him to a Throne, that he might feed
His people; Israels selected Seed.
Who fed them faithfully; and all the Land
Directed with a just and equall hand.
