CCXIII. 2 Chron. Chap. XXV.
Amaziah's Reign. He conquers Edom. Worships Idols, &c.
Jehoash
thus compell'd the Helm forsakes,
His vacant Station Amaziah takes:
With wav'ring Mind he Israel's God did fear,
Tho' right his Course he cou'd not steddy steer.
With Justice and with Piety begun
His Reign, as best became a King and Son:
The Regicides with Vengeance did pursue,
And those who slew his Father, justly slew;
But Mercy to their guiltless Race extends:
And from the Peoples Fury them defends:
Of Judah did a mighty Host provide,
Three hundred thousand Souls in Battel try'd,
The Shield they knew to grasp, th'unerring Spear to guide.
To these, Auxiliary Forces came,
Drawn by his Royal Bounty and his Fame,
From Ephraim's Coast, though they by God's command
Dismiss'd, enrag'd return, and spoil the Land:
While Judah's King his Troops together draws,
To vindicate their Father Jacob's Cause
Against fierce Esau's Sons, who now had broke
With Fate to Foe their ancient galling Yoke;
The Salt-Sea Vale did with his Squadrons beat,
The Foe pursu'd his Conquest to compleat,
To Selah's craggy Rock, their last Retreat:
Their Lives Ten thousand Warriors dearly sell,
And with their Country not ignobly fell:
An equal Number from the lofty Keep,
Are head-long tumbled o're the dreadful Steep;
Ah! had their captive Gods but done the same,
Secure thy Conquest, and secure thy Fame.
O Judah's wav'ring King—but with thee born,
At once the Peoples Wonder and their Scorn,
They thy triumphant Car at first adorn:
What gawdy Nothings they! how proud, how brave!
Yet neither cou'd themselves nor their Adorers save:
Yet these in Chains their Conqueror did subdue,
And soon the Great Ten-thousand-Slayer slew:
Behold him kneel and cringe before their Shrine!
O blind and lost! Are these, Are these Divine?
Ev'n Israel does thy Shame with Blushes see,
And Bethel's self is Innocent to Thee.
On speedy Ruine obstinately bent,
The Prophet threaten'd who from Heav'n was sent,
To bid thee, e're 'twas yet too late, repent.
With Israel hence thy Wars and thy Defeat,
When valiant Joash forc'd thy Troops to beat:
Thy boasted Strength, thy baffled Army fled,
Thy self in Chains, inglorious Captive! led;
When freed, yet weaken'd with thy ill Success:
How few to Kings are Loyal in Distress!
When thou didst from thy Father's God decline,
Against thy Life is form'd a black Design:
To Lachish didst thou flee, but fled'st in vain,
By Treason there pursu'd, and unlamented slain.
