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. |
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 | The history of The Old Testament In verse |  |
38
XIX. Genesis, Chap. XXV. Ver. 21. to 26.
Rebecca being barren, Isaac prays for her. Esau and Jacob born. Their conditions foretold.
Vain
Man, when of his darling Wish possess'd
Still something wants which leaves him still unbless'd.
We ask of Heaven and murmur when deny'd,
We ask fair Children and a beauteous Bride.
But Heav'n alone foresees the dark Event,
And whether they in Wrath or Mercy sent.
Still something wants which leaves him still unbless'd.
We ask of Heaven and murmur when deny'd,
We ask fair Children and a beauteous Bride.
But Heav'n alone foresees the dark Event,
And whether they in Wrath or Mercy sent.
And is there no Relief for mortal Care
No Balm for all our Wounds?—There is—'Tis Pray'r:
By this, unshock'd, the fiercest Storms we bear,
By this remove; new Light and Joy receive,
And breath agen a while, and think we live.
This all the Just of old, this Isaac try'd:
No smiling Heir to bless his lovely Bride:
Can Heav'n forget what Heav'n itself decreed,
Where are his Hopes, and where the Promis'd Seed!
His barren Wealth, th'effect of all his Care
Must Rapine seize, or thankless Strangers share?
The fruitful Poor he bless'd—Yet did he not despair.
Full Twenty Years he pray'd, nor pray'd in vain,
But does at length a doubled Blessing gain:
The sad Rebecca's barren Womb's unseal'd,
And of her struggling Birth the Fate's reveal'd:
“Two Nations, thus said God, are in thy Womb
“Two different Warring People thence shall come
“The younger Hand the Scepter doom'd to sway,
‘The Elder, tho' relucting, must obey.
No Balm for all our Wounds?—There is—'Tis Pray'r:
By this, unshock'd, the fiercest Storms we bear,
By this remove; new Light and Joy receive,
And breath agen a while, and think we live.
This all the Just of old, this Isaac try'd:
No smiling Heir to bless his lovely Bride:
Can Heav'n forget what Heav'n itself decreed,
Where are his Hopes, and where the Promis'd Seed!
His barren Wealth, th'effect of all his Care
Must Rapine seize, or thankless Strangers share?
The fruitful Poor he bless'd—Yet did he not despair.
39
But does at length a doubled Blessing gain:
The sad Rebecca's barren Womb's unseal'd,
And of her struggling Birth the Fate's reveal'd:
“Two Nations, thus said God, are in thy Womb
“Two different Warring People thence shall come
“The younger Hand the Scepter doom'd to sway,
‘The Elder, tho' relucting, must obey.
And now her ripen'd Burthen press'd to share
The cheerful Light and tast sweet Vital Air:
A double Birth from her glad Labor came,
Rough ESAU was the First, JACOB the Younger's Name.
The cheerful Light and tast sweet Vital Air:
A double Birth from her glad Labor came,
Rough ESAU was the First, JACOB the Younger's Name.
| The history of The Old Testament In verse | |