University of Virginia Library

AZARIA AND HUSHAI,

A POEM.

In Impious Times, when Priest-craft was at height,
And all the Deadly Sins esteemed light;
When that Religion only was a Stale,
And some bow'd down to God, and some to Baal;
When Perjury was scarce esteem'd a Sin,
And Vice, like flowing Tides, came rowling in;
When Luxury, Debauch, and Concubine,
The sad Effects of Women and of Wine,
Rag'd in Judea and Jerusalem,
Good Amazia of great David's Stem,
God-like and great in Peace did rule that Land,
And all the Jews stoop'd to his just Command.
Long now in Sion had he Peace enjoy'd,
After that Civil Broils the Land destroy'd:
Plenty and Peace attended on his Reign,
And Solomon's Golden days return'd again;
When the Old Canaanites, who there did lurk,
Began to find both God and King new Work:
For Amazia, tho' he God did love,
Had not cast out Baal's Priests, and cut down every Grove.
Too oft Religion's made pretence for Sin,
About it in all Ages Strife has been;
But Int'rest, which at bottom doth remain,
Which still converts all Godliness to Gain,
What e'er Pretence is made, is the true Cause,
That moves the Priest, and like the Load-stone draws.
The Canaanites of Old that Land possess'd,
And long therein Idolatry profess'd;
Till Sins of Priests, and of the Common Rout,
Caus'd God and his good Kings to cast them out.
Their Idols were pull'd down, their Groves destroy'd,
Strict Laws against them, and their Worship made.
The Heathen Priests were banish'd from the Land
Of Baal, no Temple suffer'd was to stand;
And all Succeeding Kings made it their Care,
They should no more rear up their Altars there.
If some mild Kings did wink at their Abode,
They to the Jews still prov'd a Pricking-goad:
Growing more bold, they penal Laws defy'd,
And like tormenting Thorns, stuck in their Side.
The busy Priests had lost their gainful Trade,
Revenge and Malice do their Hearts invade;
And since by Force they can't themselves restore,
Nor gain the Sway they in Judea bore,
With Hell they Joyn their secret Plots to bring
Destruction to Judea and its King.
The Chemerarims, the learnedst Priests, of all
The numerous Swarms which did belong to Baal,
Bred up in subtil Arts, to Jews well known,
And fear'd for Bloody Morals of their own;
Who in the Cause of Baal no one would spare,
But for his sake on all Mankind make War,
Counting it lawful Sacred Kings to smite,
Who favor'd not their God, or was no Baalite,
These were the Idol's known, and great Support,
Who in Disguise creep into every Court,
Where they soon Faction raise, and by their Arts,
Insinuate into the Princes Hearts:
Wriggle themselves into Intreagues of State,
Sweet Peace destroy, and Bloody Wars create.
Unwearied still, they deep Designs pursue:
What can't a Chemarim, and Belzeebub do?
For cunning Plot, Trepan, for Oaths and Sham,
The Devil must give place to Chemarim.
These subtil Priests, in Habit black and grave;
Each man a Saint in shew, in Heart a Knave,
Did in Judea swarm, grew great withall,
And like th' Egyptian Frogs to Court they crawl:
Where, like them too, they never are at rest;
But Bed and Board of Kings, with Filth infest.
To every Shape they could themselves transform,
Angels could seem, but still their Aim was Harm.
They all the Sects among the Jews could ape,
And went about disguiss'd in every Shape.
One imitates the Zealous Pharisee,
The Essens this, the dammee Sadduce he;
And such their ready, and their subtil Wit,
For every Trade, and every Science fit:
They Credit got, and stole into the Heart,
And from their God, did many Souls pervert,
Who seeming Jews, or what they were before,
In Secret did the Idol Baal adore;
Whose false Religion was but loose, and few
Could bear the Righteous Strictness of the true.
Thus these Disciples of the hellish Brood,
Disguis'd, among the Jews, themselves intrude,
And with the purer Wheat, their Tares they sow,
Saw their bad Crop near to an Harvest grow,
And hop'd that they again should rule the State:
For e'er the days of good Jehosaphat,
Through all the Land Baal's Worship was allow'd,
And King and People to gross Idols bow'd.
The Priests, like Bloody Tyrants did command;
They and their Gods, did wholly rule the Land;
And every one who would not bow to Baal,
Fled thence, or else by Fire, or Sword did fall:
But that good King a Reformation made,
Their Idols, and their Groves he quite destroy'd;
In every place their Altars overthrew,
And Chemarims he banished or slew.
Since when (except in Athaliah's Reign,
Who for a space, set Idols up again,
Tormenting those to Death who would not turn,
And did the Jewish Rabbins slay or burn)
These crafty Priests, by Plots did never cease,
To spoil the Beauty of Judea's Peace.
Whilst Joash reign'd, by sly and subtil Arts,
They first estrang'd from him his Peoples Hearts.
Saw Faction's Sparks, and unseen blew the Fire,
Till Rebells 'gainst that good King did conspire:
Then Cursed Zabed of proud Ammon's Line,
And Moabitish Jehozabad joyn,
And to their Side some Pharisees they drew,
(Joash did to their Sect no Favor shew)
And th' Essens, who then daily numerous grew,
Rebell, and their good King, like Murtherers, slew.
Then Amazia over Jordan fled,
Till God had struck the Tyrant Zabed dead;
When all his Subjects, who his Fate did moan,
With joyful Hearts, restor'd him to his Throne;
Who then his Father's Murtherers destroy'd,
And a long, happy, peaceful Reign enjoy'd.
Belov'd of all, for merciful was He,
Like God, in the Superlative Degree.
The Jewish Sects he did not seek to quell,
Yet Laws he made they might no more rebell:
Wisely about them made of Laws a Fence,
Yet kind, would not oppress their Conscience.
The Pharisee, a very numerous Sect,
Above the rest were in their Worship strict:
In their own Synagogues he let them pray,
And worship God after their stricter way.
In Peace all liv'd, and former strife forgot,
The Chemarims and Hell had hatch'd a Plot:
A Plot form'd in the deep Abyss below,
Law and Religion both to overthrow.
The King was by their Bloody Swords to fall,
That all Judea might submit to Baal.
Great were their Hopes, and deep was their Design.
The Train already laid to spring their Mine;
Not dreaming Heav'n could their Plots betray,
They only waited an auspicious day.
Nor fail'd their Plot for want of Common Sence,
As some endeavor'd to persuade the Prince:
For with much Art, great Industry and Care,
They all things for their black Design prepare.
Not hatch'd by Common Brains, or men of Earth,
Nor was't the Issue of a suddain Birth;
But long designing, and well laid it seems,
By Baal's Arch-priests, and subtil Chemarins.
The Canaanites dispersed through the Land,
O'er whom Baal's Priests had absolute Command,
Were bound with Oaths, the Priests Religious Charms,
To Secresie, and furnished with Arms.
Heads they had got, as well as Hands to fight,
Some zealous Princes of the Canaanites,
Who ready were to guide the Common Rout,
So soon as their Conspiracy broke out.
Ægypt of Warlike Jews was still afraid,
Lest as of Old, they should that Land invade,
To further this Design had promis'd Aid.
Thus on a firm Foundation they had wrought
Their great Design, well built to Humane thought:
Tho' nothing that weak Mortals e'er design'd,
But Folly seems to the Eternal Mind,
Who blasting man's vain Projects, lets him know,
He sits above, sees and rules all below.
This wicked Plot, the Nations Bain and Curse,
So bad no man can represent it worse:
Want only Amazia to destroy,
But that they might the Rites of Baal enjoy:
For the good Amazia being gone,
They had design'd a Baalite for the Throne.
Of all their Hopes and Plots, here lay the Store:
For what Encouragement could they have more,
When they beheld the King's own Brother fall,
From his Religion, and to worship Baal?
The Priest well knew what Pow'r, and what Controul
He had usurp'd o're ev'ry Baalite's Soul,
That such a Prince must their God's Cause pursue,
And do whatever they would have him do;
Else from his Throne he should be curs'd and damn'd:
For Baal's High-Priest, a Right t' all Crowns had claim'd.
An Article 'tis of a Baalite's Faith,
That o're Crown'd Heads a Sovereignty he hath.
Thus on a sure Foundation, as they thought,
They had their Structure to Perfection wrought
When God, who shews regard to Sacred Kings,
The Plot and Plotters to Confusion brings,
And in a moment down their Babel flings.
A Levite, who had Baalite turn'd, and bin
One of the Order of the Chemarim,
Who in the Plot had deeply been concern'd,
And all their horrid Practices had learn'd;
Smote in his Conscience with a true Remorse,
From King and Land diverts the threat'ning Curse.
Libni, I think they call'd the Levite's Name,
Which in Judea still will be of Fame;
Since following Heaven's Impulse and high Command,
He prov'd a Glorious Saviour of the Land.
By him the deep Conspiracy's o'rethrown,
The Treason, and the Traytors all made known:
For which from Baalites he had Curses store;
But by the Jews loaded with Blessings more.
The Hellish Plotters were then seiz'd upon,
And into Goals and Iron Fetters thrown;
From whence to Lawful Tryals they were born,
Condemn'd for Traytors, and hang'd up with Scorn:
Yet Chemarims with matchless Impudence,
With dying Breath avow'd their Innocence:
So careful of their Order they still were,
Lest Treason in them Scandal should appear,
That Treason they with Perjury pursue,
Having their Arch-priest's Licence so to do.
They fear'd not to go perjur'd to the Grave,
Believing their Arch-priest their Souls could save:
For all God's Power they do on him bestow,
And call him their Almighty God below.
To whom they say three powerful Keys are given,
Of Hell, of Purgatory, and of Heav'n.
No wonder then if Baalites this believe,
They should, with their false Oaths try to deceive,
And gull the People with their Dying Breath,
Denying all their Treason at their Death.
This made Impression on some easie Minds,
Whom or good Nature, or false Pity blinds;
Mov'd their Compassion, and stirr'd up their Grief,
And of their dying Oaths caus'd a Belief.
This did effect what the curs'd Traytors sought,
The Plots Belief into Discredit brought,
Of it at first, some Doubts they only rais'd,
And with their Impudence the World amaz'd:
Tho' Azyad's Murder did the Jews convince,
Who was a man most Loyal to his Prince,
And by the Bloody Chemarims did fall,
Because he seiz'd the Trayt'rous Priests of Baal:
Tho' Gedaliah's Letters made all plain,
Who was their Scribe, and of a ready Brain:
A Levite's Son, but turn'd a Baalite,
Who for the King's own Brother then did write,
And Correspondence kept i'th' Egyptian Court,
To whom the Traytors for Advice resort;
Who like a zealous, trayt'rous Baalite dy'd,
And at the Fatal Tree the Plot deny'd.
Tho' Amazia did at first believe,
And to the Hellish Plot did Credit give;
Tho' the Great Council of the Sanhedrim,
Among the Jews always of grèat Esteem,
Declar'd to all the World this Plot to be,
An Hellish, and a curs'd Conspiracy,
To kill the King, Religion to o'rethrow,
And cause the Jews their Righteous Laws foregoe;
To make the People to dumb Idols fall,
And in the place of God, to set up Baal:
Tho' all the People saw it, and believ'd;
Tho' Courts of Justice, hard to be deceiv'd,
Had added to the rest their Evidence,
Yet with a strange unheard of Impudence,
The Baalites all so stoutly had deny'd
Their Hellish Plot, with Vows and Oaths beside,
And with such Diligence themselves apply'd.
They at the last, their sought for point had got,
And artfully in doubt had brought their Plot.
A thousand cunning Shams and Tricks they us'd,
Whereby the simple Vulgar were abus'd;
And some o'th' Edomitish Evidence,
Who Mammon worship'd, were brought off with pence.
Libni, for whom, before their Harps they strung,
Who was the Subject of each Hebrew's Song,
Was villify'd by every Rascall's Tongue.
In Secret, and inglorious did remain,
And the Plot thought the Project of his Brain.
The Baalites thus encourag'd by Success,
Increase their Hopes, and their black Projects bless:
Like the bold Titans, Plot on Plot they lay,
And Heav'n it self with impious Arms essay.
A new Invention wrought in Hell below,
The Jews, and their Religion to o'erthrow;
They bring to light, with this their Hopes they raise,
And for dire Plots, think they deserve the Bays.
This Engine stronger than th' old Roman Ram
For Battery, by a new name call'd Sham,
With well learn'd, and successful Arts they use
To overthrow the Syn'gogues of the Jews,
Their Worship and Religion to confound.
And lay their Glorious Temple on the Ground.
With this new Engine, they a Breach had made,
By which they hop'd the Loyal Jews t' invade.
With Troops of Treasons, and Rebellious Plots,
Led on by Villains, perjur'd Rogues and Sots;
And with such Arms, in Hells black Work-house form'd,
The peaceful Jews they violently storm'd;
Who 'gainst the Ba'lites Plots had no defence,
But God, their Laws, and their own Innocence.
Among the Princes of the Jewish Race,
For Wisdom, Hushai had the Chiefest Place,
Prudent in Speech, and in his Actions close,
Admir'd by all, and feared by his Foes;
Well skill'd, and knowing in the Jewish Laws,
Able to plead, and to defend a Cause,
Of piercing Judgment, and of pregnant Wit,
Did once Chief Judge of all Judea sit;
Was then esteem'd the Honor of the Gown,
And with his Vertues sought to serve the Crown,
Till Foes procur'd him Amazia's Frown.
Then he descended from the hight of Place,
Without a Blemish, and without Disgrace;
Yet inly griev'd; for he could well divine
The Issue of the Baalites curs'd Design,
To see Religion, and God's Righteous Cause,
The Ancient Government, the Nation's Laws,
Unpropping, and all ready strait to fall,
And the whole Race of Jews made Slaves to Baal:
With Zeal inspired, boldly up he 'rose,
To wrestle with the King's, and Nation's Foes;
And tho' he was with Wealth and Honor blest,
He scorn'd to give his Age its needful Rest:
He learn'd, that man was not born for himself,
To get great Titles, Names, or sordid Pelf,
To wear a lazy Life, himself to please,
With Idleness, and with luxurious Ease:
When he beheld his Country in distress,
And none the Danger able to redress,
He did resolve, tho' not affecting Fame,
Or to obtain a Patriot's Glorious Name,
His Rest, his Life, his Fortune to expose,
Rather than see his Countrey's dangerous Foes
Run on uncheck'd, till they had brought the Land,
To their, and to a Baalite King's Command.
He could not therefore so himself forget,
To see the Barques of Government o'erset;
But with his Skill he help'd the Boat to trim,
And boldly did oppose Eliakim.
Eliakim was Brother to the King,
From the same Loins, and Royal Seed did spring;
Of Courage bold, and of a daring mind,
To whom the King, ev'n to Excess was kind;
And tho' he had a Son, for him the Crown design'd.
Sweet Azaria, like the beauteous Morn,
Whence all Sweets flow, did once that Court adorn,
A budding Rose, whose Beauty's newly blown,
Or like a Cedar on Mount Lebanon:
He in his Father's Grace, and Favor grew,
And towards him the People's Eyes he drew.
He was by most belov'd, admir'd by all,
For's Zeal to God, and's Hatred unto Baal:
But ah! this mov'd the cursed Baalite's Hate,
Disturb'd his Peace, and Troubles did create.
What can't Design and Hellish Malice do?
With Lyes they close this Noble Prince pursue.
They think his Father too indulgent grown,
Whose Love had many Blessings on him thrown,
But what exceeded all the rest beside,
He chose the sweet Jerusha for his Bride:
A Blessing he esteemed far above
The Crown, and all things but his Father's Love:
For that he still above his Life did prize,
Dear as his Fame, and dearer than his Eyes.
Below his Feet, for that he all things trod,
Adoreing nothing more except his God.
Young as he was, he had acquired Fame,
His Breast infired with a Warlike Flame,
In Foreign Wars, his Courage he had shown,
Had Lawrels won, and brought home fair Renown:
Happy, most happy, till with wondrous Art,
His Foes had wrought him from his Father's Heart,
And so much Power on Amazia won,
He by Degrees, grew jealous of his Son.
And who for this can Amazia blame,
If that the King the Father overcame?
For Crowns by Kings esteemed are more near,
Than Children, or than Sons, belov'd more dear.
His Foes, Baal's Friends, had laid their artful Snairs,
Hight'ned his Father's Jealousies and Fears,
And made each innocent Action of the Prince,
To give his Jealous Father an Offence.
If with wise Hushai they the Prince did see,
They call'd their Meeting a Conspiracy,
And cry, that he was going to rebell:
Him Absalom they name, Hushai Achitophel.
With Slander thus the Prince they did pursue,
Aiming at's Life, and the wise Hushai's too.
When they much pleased, and triumphing saw,
The King his Royal Favors to withdraw,
Which like a Spring on him before did flow,
And from him, all on others to bestow:
Defenceless left, naked, almost forlorn,
Subject to every trifling Rhimers Scorn,
And beyond Jordan by their malice drove,
No Succor left him but the People's Love;
(For he was still their Darling and Delight,
Because they saw he was no Baalite,)
Their Hopes now almost at their Height did seem,
To place the Crown upon Eliakim.
The Jews, God's People and peculiar Care,
For their true Worship still most zealous were;
That Jewel seem'd most pretious in their Eyes,
And it above all Humane things they prize.
No Torments could make them their Faith deny,
They willingly for their Religion die:
Their Liberties were also dear to them,
Sprung from a free, and not a slavish Stem,
Th' Egyptian Bondage for their Souls unfit,
They never in Judea would permit;
Their own known Laws, they willingly obey,
Hate Tyranny and Arbitrary Sway:
Nor did they many Priviledges want,
Kept from the Time they first the Land did plant;
For which to Death they lawfully would strive,
If injur'd by their King's Prerogative:
For some of them have try'd to break the Bound,
And did like Ethnick Kings, their People's Freedom wound,
So Rehoboam caus'd them to rebell,
And lost at once ten Tribes of Israel.
No people were more ready to obey
Their Kings, who rul'd them by a gentle Sway,
Who never sought their Consciences to curb,
Their Freedom or Religion to disturb.
To such they always open-hearted were,
For them, they neither Coin, nor Blood would spare.
Such Kings might their Prerogatives improve,
And rule the Jews, ev'n as they pleas'd with Love;
But stiff indeed they were, and moody grew,
When Tyrants did with cruel Stripes pursue
Them sore oppress'd, and sometimes murmur'd too.
Kings they had try'd of ev'ry sort and size.
Best govern'd by the Warlike and the wise.
Tho' Kings they lov'd, and for them Reverence had,
They never would adore them as a God.
God's Worship, and their Laws they did prefer,
They knew, them men might by bad Councils Err.
Tho' Loyal, yet oppress'd, they did not fear
To make their heavy Grievances appear.
This was indeed the Humor of the Jew,
The People by Complaints their Griefs would shew;
And never would, in truth, contented seem,
Untill redress'd by their wise Sanhedrim.
Thus now the Jews, tho' free from ill Design,
In their Religious Cause together joyn:
They cast their Eyes on Amazia's Son,
Who, without Arts the People's Love had won:
Full of tormenting Jealousies and Fears,
Eliakim a dangerous man appears:
The sober part of the whole Sanhedrim,
Desire to keep Judea's Crown from him:
For they foresaw if he should wear the Crown,
Baal's Worship he'd set up, and God's cast down:
That all the Nations must be Slaves to Baal,
Suffer in Flames, fly, or 'fore Idolls fall.
Great were their Fears, but yet they did abhor
The very Thought of a dishonest War:
For they had seen the Kingdom's many Scarrs,
Th' unseemly Marks of former Civil Wars.
They Amazia lov'd and wish'd him well,
Resolve to suffer rather than rebell;
Yet openly declare free from all Stain,
How much they hate a Baalite should Reign;
And for this Cause, and for this Cause alone,
Eliakim they'd put by from the Throne.
Indeed, great Prince, it seemeth wondrous strange
To all the World, to see your Father's change;
To find the happy Love he us'd to show'r,
Like fruitful Rain, on you, to fall no more:
To see a Son, the Father's dear Delight,
His pleasing Joy, now banish'd from his sight.
Nature must in the Father deeply groan,
When from his Heart is rent so dear a Son.
Nor can I think, tho he from you should part,
A Brother e'er can lie so near his Heart.
To work this Change, your Foes much Art do use,
Their venom'd Tongues your Fathers Ears abuse,
And you of an aspiring mind accuse.
Justice in Amazia bears such sway,
That even Nature must to it give way;
H'ad rather Nature force, and part with you,
Than seem to rob another of his due.
He holds it just, and as a thing divine,
To keep unbroken still the Royal Line.
Such an Example we can hardly find,
A King to's Brother so exceeding kind;
When by it he doth such great hazard run,
Losing at once his People and his Son.
Grieve not, great Prince, at your unhappy Fate;
Let not your Birth your Vertue to abate;
It was not you that could your self create.
I should great folly shew, should I repine
At what I could not help, and was no fault of mine.
Tho by your Mothers side your Birth was mean,
And tho your Mother no declared Queen,
If Heaven and your Father please, you may
By lawful Right, Judea's Scepter sway,
After that he is number'd with the Dead,
And his great Soul to Abraham's Bosom fled.
Possession of a Crown clears every Stain;
No blot of Birth to you can then remain.
What Pow'r on Earth, by Right, dares question you?
Or what your Father and Sanhedrim do?
Nor is your Birth to Heaven any let;
God Jepthtah once did o're Judea set.
He was a Conquerour of a mighty Name,
And's Mother no ways did eclipse his Fame,
Nor bar'd him from the Title of a King,
Nor those who after from his Loins did spring.
Nature may yet make your great Father kind;
And who can tell but he may change his mind,
When your Succession shall be understood
To be the Peoples Choice, and for the Nations Good?
But let us leave what is to come, to Fate;
Yours Father's pleasure and God's will await.
Long may it be ere the King's life doth end;
On it our Peace and Happiness depend.
Like Wheat full ripe, with many years bow'd down,
Let him leave this for an immortal Crown.
And who can tell Heav'n's will? it may be too,
Eliakim may die before the King or you.
Think of no Titles while your Father lives;
Take not what an unjust Occasion gives.
For to take Arms you can have no pretence,
Tho it should be e'en in your own defence.
It better were without the Crown to die,
Than quit your Vertue and blest Loyaltie.
You with the numerous Peoples Love are blest,
Not of the Vulgars onely, but the Best.
I would not have you their kind Love repel,
Nor give encouragement for to rebel:
For their Affection which they wildly shew,
Is rendred, by your Foes, a Crime in you.
Here you your Course must even steer and strait,
That you may not your Father's fears create;
Keep the Jews Love, and not increase his Hate.
Leave for a while the Citie and the Court,
Go and divert your self with Country-sport;
Perhaps your Foes may then abate their spight,
And you may be forgot, when out of sight.
By your Retirement, you will let them see
You'd take away all cause of Jealousie.
That you, like Absalom, will never prove,
To court the head-strong Peoples factious Love.
Nor will I ever prove Achitophel,
To give you wicked Counsel to rebel.
Continue still your Loyalty, be just;
And for the Crown, God and your Vertue trust.
Endeavour not to take what may be giv'n;
Deserve it first, and then receive't from Heav'n.
He said, And this Advice above the rest,
Suited with Azaria's Vertue best.
He was not stain'd with Cruelty or Pride;
A thousand Graces he possest beside.
To Vertue he was naturally inclin'd,
And Goodness clothed his heroick Mind.
His Kingly Vertues made him fit to reign,
Yet scorn'd by evil Arts the Crown to gain.
And tho he Empire to desire did seem,
His Loyalty was still more dear to him:
Therefore he did not court the Peoples Love
Nor us'd their Pow'r his Rival to remove.
From's Father he sought not their Hearts to steal,
Nor head a Faction mov'd by blinding Zeal;
But like a vertuous and a pious Son,
Sought all occasions of Offence to shun.
In private like a common man sat down,
His Peace his Rule, his Loyalty his Crown.
Thus humble, vertuous, loyal, void of Pride,
Most of the Jews he gained to his side.
Not factious Sects, the Rabble, or the rude
Erring, unthinking, vulgar Multitude:
But the chief Tribes and Princes of the Land,
Who durst for Moses's ancient Statutes stand.
The pious, just, religious, and the good,
Men of great Riches, and of greater Bloud,
Did, as one man, themselves together joyn
To stop the Baalites, and Hell's curst design.
Not wicked, or seduc'd by impious Arts,
But Loyal all, and Patriots in their Hearts.
For they beheld the Baalites foul intent,
Religion to o'rethrow and Government.
These at the Monarch's Power did not grutch,
Since bound by Laws, he could not have too much.
What Laws prescribe, they thought he well might have,
How could he else his Realm in danger save?
But Baal's or Egypt's Yoke they would refuse,
Not fitting for the Necks of free-born Jews.
They all resolve the King not to oppose,
Yet to defend the Nation from its Foes.
And were it not for those great Worthy men,
The Jews distress'd and wretched soon had been.
Among the Rout perhaps there some might blend,
Whose int'rest made them Publick Good pretend;
Weary of Peace, new Troubles would create,
And for their private Gain, embroyl the State.
And some perhaps there were, who thought a King
To be of Charge, and but an useless thing.
Some idle Fops, who publickly debate
To shew their Parts, the deep Intrigues of State;
These and some others, for a Commonwealth,
Among the Herd, unseen, might hide by stealth:
But it would strange to common Justice seem,
For some few bad, the sound Flock to condemn.
Like Goats among the Sheep, well known these bleat,
And are like Darnel 'mong the purest Wheat.
These not as Friends, but Enemies to the Throne,
Good Patriots and good Subjects did disown.
And Azaria, tho tehy us'd his name,
Disdain'd their Friendship with a loyal shame.
But he beheld appearing on his side,
Princes, whose Faith and Loyalty were try'd;
Such as no base or sordid ends could move,
Who did his Father and their Country love.
In the first rank of these did Nashon stand,
None nobler or more loyal in the Land.
Under the King he once did Edom sway,
And taught that Land the Jews good Laws t'obey.
True to his Word, and of unspotted Fame;
Great both in Parts, in Vertue, and in Name.
His Faith ne'r touch'd, his Loyalty well known,
A Friend both to his Country and the Throne.
Base ends his great and noble Soul did scorn,
Of loyal, high, and noble Parents born.
His Father with renown and great Applause,
For Joash di'd, and suffer'd for his Cause.
Of great Aminadab who would not sing,
Whose glory shin'd next to the martyr'd King?
From him his Son true Loyalty understood,
Imprest on's Soul, seal'd with his Father's Bloud.
The grave, religious, wise, rich Helon too,
Much honoured by every zealous Jew,
Appear'd a Patriot, to his Country true.
In the Jews Laws, and strict Religion bred,
And Baal's curst Rites did much abhor and dread.
His Son Eliab, in the Sanhedrim,
With courage had oppos'd Eliakim:
A man whose many Vertues, and his Parts,
Had won upon the sober Peoples Hearts.
From every Faction, and from Envy free;
Lov'd well the King, but hated Flatterie;
Kept Moses's Laws, yet was no Pharisee.
He went not to their Synagogues to pray,
But to the Holy Temple every day.
With piercing Judgment saw the Lands Disease,
And labour'd onely for the Kingdoms Peace:
Loyal and honest was esteem'd by all,
Excepting those who strove to set up Baal.
For an ill Action he ne'r stood reprov'd;
But's King, his Country, and Religion lov'd.
No Taint ere fell upon Eliab's name,
Nor Hell it self found cause to spot his Fame.
Pagiel with honour loaded, and with years,
Among this Loyal Princely Train appears.
None Pagiel tax'd, for no one ever knew
That he to Amazia was untrue.
A Fame unspotted he might truly boast;
Yet he had Foes, and his gain'd Favours lost.
Zuar, a sober and a vertuous Prince,
Who never gave least cause of an offence.
Elishama, at once both sage and young,
From noble and from loyal Fathers sprung,
Shone bright among this sober Princely throng.
Enan, a Prince of very worthie Fame;
Great in deserved Title, Bloud, and Name.
Elizur too, who number'd with the best
In Vertue, scorn'd to lag behind the rest.
Abidon and Gamaliel had some sway;
Both loyal, and both zealous in their way.
And now once more I will invoke my Muse,
To sing brave Ashur's praise who can refuse?
Sprung from an ancient and a noble Race,
With Courage stampt upon his manly face;
Young, active, loyal; had through Dangers run,
And with his Sword abroad had Honours won:
Well-spoken, bold, free, generous, and kind,
And of a noble and discerning mind.
Great ones he scorn'd to court, nor fools would please,
But thought it better for to trust the Seas.
He thought himself far safer in a Storm,
And should receive from raging Seas less harm,
Than from those dangerous men, who could create
A Storm at Land, with Envie and with Hate.
And now got free from all their Trains and Wiles,
He at their hateful Plots and Malice smiles,
Plowing the Ocean for new Honour toils.
These were the chief; a good and faithful Band
Of Princes, who against those men durst stand
Whose Counsel sought to ruine all the Land.
With grief they saw the cursed Baalites bent
To batter down the Jewish Government;
To pull their Rights and true Religion down,
By setting up a Baalite on the Throne.
These wisely did with the Sanhedrim joyn;
Which Council by the Jews was thought divine.
The next Successour would remove, 'tis true,
Onely because he was a Baalite Jew.
Ills they foresaw, and the great danger found,
Which to the King (as by their Dutie bound)
They shew'd, and open laid the bleeding Wound.
But such who had possest his Royal Ear,
Had made the King his Loyal Subjects fear;
Did their good Prince with causeless terrour fright,
As if these meant to rob him of his Right.
Said, They with other Rebels did combine,
And had against his Crown some ill designe:
That the wise Hushai laid a wicked Train,
And Azaria sought in's stead to reign:
That the old Plot to ruine Church and State,
Was born from Hushai's and the Levite's Pate:
That Pharisees were bold and numerous grown,
And sought to place their Elders in his Throne.
No wonder then if Amazia thought
These Loyal Worthies did not as they ought;
That they did Duty and Obedience want,
And no Concessions from the Throne would grant.
They who in Amazia's favour grew,
Themselves obnoxious to the People knew.
Some were accused by the Sanhedrim,
Most Friends and Allies to Eliakim:
For his Succession eagerly they strove,
And him, the rising Sun, adore and love.
When Doeg, who with Egypt did combine,
And to enslave Judea did designe,
Accus'd of Treason by the Sanhedrim,
Kept in the Tower of Jerusalem;
The Object prov'd of fickle Fortunes sport,
And lost the Honours he possest at Court.
Elam in favour grew, out stript by none,
And seem'd a Prop to Amazia's Throne.
He had in foreign parts been sent to School,
And did in Doeg's place the Kings thin Treasure rule.
He to Eliakim was neer alli'd;
What greater parts could he possess beside?
For the wise Jews believ'd the King did run
Some hazard, if he prov'd his Father's Son.
But now, alas! th' Exchequer was grown poor,
The Coffers empty, which did once run o're.
The bounteous King had been so very kind,
That little Treasure he had left behind.
Elam had gotten with the empty Purse,
For his dead Father's sake the Peoples Curse:
For they believ'd that no great good could spring
From one false to his Country and his King.
Jotham the fickle Shuttle-cock of Wit,
Was bandied several ways to be made fit:
Unconstant, he always for Honour tri'd,
At last laid hold upon the rising side.
If Wit he had, 'twas thought, by not a few,
He a better thing did want, and Wisdom too.
Then Amiel would scarce give place to him,
Who once the chief was of the Sanhedrim.
He then appeared for the Crowns defence;
But spoke his own, and not the Nations sense.
And tho he praised was by Shimei's Muse,
The Jews of many Crimes did him accuse.
Harim, a man like a bow'd Ninepence bent,
Had tried all the ways of Government:
Was once a Rebel, and knew how to cant;
Then turn'd a very Devil of a Saint:
Peevish, morose, and some say, prov'd a fool,
When o're the Edomites he went to rule.
When to his bent the King he could not bring,
He fairly then went over to the King.
Old Amalack, a man of cunning head,
Once in the cursed School of Rebels bred;
From thence his Maximes and his Knowledge drew,
Of old known Arts how to enslave the Jew.
For pardon'd Treason, thus sought to atone,
Had wrong'd the Father, would misguide the Son.
Once in Religion a strict Pharisee,
To Baal's then turn'd, or else of none was he.
He long before seem'd to approve their Rites,
Marrying his Issue to the Baalites.
A constant hunter after sordid Pelf;
Was never just to any but himself:
A very Proteus in all shapes had been,
And constant onely, and grown old in sin.
To speak the best of Amalack we can;
A cunning Devil in the shape of Man.
Muppim, a man of an huge-working Pate,
Not how to heal, but to embroil the State;
Knew how to take the wrong, and leave the right;
Was once himself a Rebel Benjamite.
To that stiff Tribe he did a while give Law,
And with his iron Yokes kept them in aw.
The Tyrant Zabed less did them provoke,
And laid upon their necks a gentler Yoke.
Amongst that Tribe he left an hated Name,
And to Jerusalem from thence he came;
Where he tyrannick Arts sought to intrude,
To learn which, Amazia was too good,
And better the Jews temper understood.
Refus'd, the Serpent did with Woman joyn,
And Counsels gave th' Egyptian Concubine.
Adam, first Monarch, fell between these two;
What can't the Serpent and a Woman do?
These with some more of the like size and sort,
In Sion made up Amazia's Court:
Whilst his best friends became these Rulers scorn,
Saw how they drove, and did in silence mourn.
Sion did then no Sacrifice afford;
Gibbar had taught the frugal King to board.
Void were its Cellars, Kitchins never hot,
And all the Feasts of Solomon forgot.
Others there were, whose Names I shan't repeat;
Eliakim had friends both small and great:
And many, who then for his Favour strove,
With their hot heads, like furious Jehu, drove.
Some Wits, some Witless, Warriors, Rich and Poor,
Some who rich Clothes and empty Titles wore;
Some who knew how to rail, some to accuse,
And some who haunted Taverns and the Stews.
Some roaring Bullies, who ran th'row the Town
Crying, God damn 'um, they'd support the Crown:
Whose wicked Oaths, and whose blasphemous Rant.
Had quite put down the holy zealous Cant.
Some were for War, and some on Mischief bent;
And some who could, for gain, new Plots invent.
Some Priests and Levites too among the rest,
Such as knew how to blow the Trumpet best:
Who with loud noise and cackling, cri'd like Geese,
For Rites, for Temple, and for dearer Fleece.
'Twixt God and Baal, these Priests divided were;
Which did prevail, these greatly did not care;
But headlong drove, without or wit or fear.
The Pharasees they curse, as Sons of Cham,
And all dissenting Jews to Hell they damn.
Shimei the Poet Laureate of that Age,
The falling Glory of the Jewish Stage,
Who scourg'd the Priest, and ridicul'd the Plot,
Like common men must not be quite forgot.
Sweet was the Muse that did his wit inspire,
Had he not let his hackney Muse to hire:
But variously his knowing Muse could sing,
Could Doeg praise, and could blaspheme the King:
The bad make good, good bad, and bad make worse,
Bless in Heroicks, and in Satyrs curse.
Shimei to Zabed's praise could tune his Muse,
And Princely Azaria could abuse.
Zimri we know he had no cause to praise,
Because he dub'd him with the name of Bays.
Revenge on him did bitter Venome shed,
Because he tore the Lawrel from his head;
Because he durst with his proud Wit engage,
And brought his Follies on the publick Stage.
Tell me, Apollo, for I can't divine,
Why Wives he curs'd, and prais'd the Concubine;
Unless it were that he had led his life
With a teeming Matron ere she was a Wife:
Or that it best with his dear Muse did sute,
Who was for hire a very Prostitute.
The rising Sun this Poets God did seem,
Which made him tune's old Harp to praise Eliakim.
Bibbai, whose name won't in Oblivion rot,
For his great pains to hide the Baalites Plot.
Must be remembred here: A Scribe was he,
Who daily damn'd in Prose the Pharisee.
With the Sectarian Jews he kept great stir;
Did almost all, but his dear self, abhor.
What his Religion was, no one could tell;
And it was thought he knew himself not well:
Yet Conscience did pretend, and did abuse,
Under the notion of Sectarian Jews,
All that he thought, or all that did but seem
Foes to Baal's Rites, Eliakim, and him.
He was a man of a pernicious Wit
For railing, biting, and for mischief fit:
He never slept, yet ever in a Dream;
Religion, Law, and State, was all his Theam.
On these he wrote in Earnest and in Feast,
Till he grew mad, and turn'd into a Beast,
Zattue his Zanie was, Buffoon, and Fool,
Who turn'd Religion into Ridicule:
Jeer'd at the Plot, did Sanhedrims abuse,
Mock'd Magistrates, damn'd all Sects of the Jews.
Of little Manners, and of lesser Brains;
Yet to embroil the State, took wondrous pains.
In jeasting still his little Talent lay;
At Hushai scoft in's witless grinning way.
These with the rest, of every size and sort,
Strove to be thought Friends to the King and Court,
With lyes and railing, would the Crown support.
Then in a Pageant shew a Plot was made,
And Law it self made War in Masquerade.
But fools they were, not warn'd by former ill,
By their own selves were circumvented still.
They thought by Bloud to give the Kingdom ease;
Physick'd the Jews when they had no Disease.
Contingent mischiefs these did not foresee,
Against their Conscience fought, and God's Decree.
What shall we think, when such, pretending good,
Would build the Nations Peace on Innocent Blood?
These would expose the People to the Sword
Of each unbounded Arbitrary Lord.
But their good Laws, by which they Right enjoy,
The King nor could, nor ever would destroy.
And tho he Judge be of what's fit and just,
He own'd from Heaven, and from Man a Trust.
Tho Laws to Kingly Power be a Band,
They are not Slaves to those whom they command.
The Power that God at first to Adam gave,
Was different far from what all Kings now have:
He had no Law but Will; but all Kings now
Are bound by Laws, as all Examples show.
By Laws Kings first were made, and with intent
Men to defend by Heav'n's and Man's consent.
God to the Crown the Regal Power did bring,
And by Consent at first, Men chose their King.
If Kings usurpd a Power, by force did sway,
The People by no Law were bound t'obey.
This does no in the People place a Right
To dissolve Soveraign sway by force or might.
To Kings, by long succession, there is giv'n
A native Right unto the Throne, by Heav'n:
Who may not be run down by common Cry,
For Vice, Oppression, and for Tyranny.
But if that Kings the tyes of Laws do break,
The People, without fault, have leave to speak;
To shew their Grievances, and seek redress
By lawfulmeans, when Kings and Lords oppress.
Tho they can't give and take, whene'r they please,
And King allow'd to be God's Images.
The Govrnment you Tyranny must call,
Where Subjects have no Right, and Kings have all.
But if reciprocal a Right there be,
Derived down unto Posteritie,
That fire's in fault, who th'other doth invade,
By which soe'r at first the breach is made:
For Innovation is a dangerous thing,
Whether it comes from People or from King.
To change Foundations which long Ages stood,
Which have prov'd firm, unshaken, sound, and good,
To pull all down, and cast the Frame anew,
Is work for Rebels, and for Tyrants too.
Now what relief could Amazia bring,
Fatal indeed to be too good a King?
Friends he had many, but them did not know,
Or else made to believe they were not so:
For all that did ill Ministers oppose,
Were represented to him as his Foes.
Yet there were many thousands in those days,
Who Amazia did both love and praise;
Who for him daily pray'd, and wish'd his good,
And for him would have spent both Coin and Bloud.
Yet these, tho the more numerous, and the best,
Were call'd but murmuring Traytors by the rest:
By such who strain'd till they had crackt the string
Of Government; lov'd Pow'r, and not the King.
These daily hightned Amazia's fears,
And thus they whisper'd in his Royal Ears:
Sir, it is time you now take up the Sword,
And let your Subjects know you are their Lord.
Goodness by Rebels won't be understood,
And you are much too wonderful and good.
The Jews, a moody, murmuring, stubborn Race,
Grow worse by Favours, and rebel with Grace.
Pamper'd they are, grown rich and fat with ease,
Whom no good Monarch long could ever please.
Freedom and Liberty pretend to want;
That's still the cry, when they're on Mischief bent.
Freedom is their Disease; and had they less,
They would not be so ready to transgress.
Give them but Liberty, let them alone,
They shall not onely you, but God dethrone.
Remember, Sir, how your good Father fell;
It was his goodness made them first rebel.
And now the very self-same tract they tread,
To reach your Crown, and then take off your head.
A senseless Plot they stumbl'd on, or made,
To make you of th'old Canaanites afraid.
Still when they mean the Nation to enthral,
With heavie Clamour they cry out on Baal.
But these hot Zealots who Baal's Idols curse,
Bow to their own more ugly far and worse.
Baal would but rob some Jewels from your Crown,
But these would Monarchy itself pull down:
Both Church and State they'l not reform by Halves,
Pull down the Temple, and set up their Calves.
You, and your Priests, they would turn out to Graze,
Nor would they let you smell a Sacrifize,
Those pious Offerings which Priests lasie made,
To Rebels, should, instead of God be paid.
How to the Prey these factious Jews do run!
From you by art they have debauch'd your Son;
That little subtle Instrument of Hell,
Worse than to David was Achitophel,
The young Man tutors, sends him through the Land,
That he the peoples minds may understand;
That he, with winning Charms, might court the Jew,
And draw your fickle Subjects hearts from you.
Alas! already they of you Complain.
And are grown sick of your too peaceful Reign,
Their Lusts grown high, they are debauch'd with Grace,
And like unfrozen Snakes fly in your Face.
These men who now pretend to give you Law,
Stood of the Tyrant Zabed's power in awe;
He made them crouch who scorn'd a Prince's sway,
And forc'd them, like dull slaves, his power obey.
Of Israel, and of Juda's Tribe you spring,
A Lion is the Ensign of a King,
Rouse up your self, in mildness sleep no more,
And make them tremble at your princely roar:
Appear like Jove with Thunder in your hand,
And let the Slaves your power understand;
Strike but the sinning Princes Down to Hell,
The rest will worship you, and ne'r rebel.
He said: Th' Almighty heard, and from on high
Spoke his Consent, in Thunder through the Skie:
The Augurie was noted by the Croud,
Who joyful shouts return'd almost as loud:
Then Amazia was once more restor'd,
He lov'd his People, they obey'd their Lord.