The history of The Old Testament In verse With One Hundred and Eighty sculptures: In Two Volumes. Vol. I. From the Creation to the Revolt of the Ten Tribes from the House of David. Vol. II. From that Revolt to the End of the Prophets. Written by Samuel Wesley ... The Cuts done by J. Sturt |
I, II. |
The history of The Old Testament In verse | ||
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CLXII. 1 Kings, Chap. V, VI, VII. Ch. VIII. from Ver. 15. to the End. 2 Chron. Chap. VII. to Ver. 3.
Solomon's Temple.
For God on ev'ry side had giv'n him Rest;
A lofty Pile of wondrous Art and Charge,
A Temple opulent, august and large:
Whose Majesty might some Resemblance bear,
Of that dread Pow'r who fix'd his Mansion there,
On tall Moriah's Mount resolves to rear:
To Tyrian Hiram, his Ally, he sends,
(Hiram and David had been ancient Friends.)
His Servants help he gains, for none so well
Cou'd Timber square, or lofty Cedars fell:
To Lebanon's fair Forrest they repair,
His Head like barren Calvary's they bare:
The Sun, a Stranger there, the Ground invades,
And drinks new Dew, and drives th'affrighted Shades.
To Sidon's Shore, a long and dubious Road,
O're craggy Rocks they drag their precious Load;
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Not unrewarded by the Hebrew King.
All things prepar'd, see the vast Fabrick rise,
And from the Center hasten to the Skies;
In three fair Stories wrought, stately and tall,
Marble the Columns, Marble was the Wall:
The House with Cedar floor'd, with Cedar lin'd,
And all with flaming Gold profusely shin'd:
So richly carv'd that Nature owns, compel'd,
She here is by her Hand-maid Art excel'd.
But who th'amazing Splendor dares reveal,
Which mystic Veils from mortal Eyes conceal?
Those bright Cherubic Forms which guard the Place,
Those menial Angels who attend and gaze!
—At safer distance from the Throne retire!
Those wide and everlasting Gates admire!
Those Pillars which the Pyramids surpass;
The Mould how curious, and how rich the Brass!
Behold yon Sea, which scarce admits a Shore,
And Rivers will receive, yet thirst for more:
Rang'd on their Bases Ten fair Lavers near,
On either side like Inland Lakes appear:
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With purest Oyl, and native Lustre shin'd.
Next see what spatious Courts the Dome surround,
With Portico's, and fair Piazza's crown'd!
The dreadful Ark the Priests and Levites bore,
To settled Seats, a Wanderer no more.
When all compleat, a vast Assembly came,
Drawn by their Monarchs and their Temples Fame:
The Dedication now their Care employs,
And Israel's Sons in festal Hymns rejoyce:
Nor cou'd a Thousand Hecatombs suffice,
The bleating, and the bellowing Nation dies,
Almost the Species falls a Sacrifice.
—See where the pious Prince himself expands,
Kneeling before the Throne his spotless Hands!
Loud Instruments and Voices fill the Quire,
Their Praise receiv'd, for lo! th'auspicious Fire
Breaks from the Oracle, the Priests retire;
A Present Deity by all confess'd,
Trembling, their Fathers God they all, adoring, bless'd.
The history of The Old Testament In verse | ||