 | Poetical works (1908) |  |
328
[Israel's Yoke.]
I
A grievous, heavy Yoke! bonds! burthens! cords!Ungrateful Israel! his happy reign
Heaps plentie, peace; mirth, safety, honour hords;
Lades you with gold; is this your load? your Lords
Turns to your slaves; are these the bonds ye[e] playn?
Tunes groanes to songs: is this your Yoke, and chain?
Was wisest Solomon a Tyrant? peace
Ungrateful Israel, thy false grumbling cease:
Thy wealth his grievous bond; his heavy Yoke thy peace.
II
Lord! Solomon was but thy shadow: heA peaceful Prince, and thou the Prince of peace.
The world is Israels type, who (blinded) see
Freedom in bonds, and bonds in libertie.
Thee they proclaym an hard man, hard to please;
Thy easy, easing Yoke lades with disease:
But murthering Satan, lust the soul oppressing,
The cheating world, by pleasing most distressing,
These are their gentle Lords, their cursed Yokes their blessing.
III
Poor souls have you no eyes? your eyes no light?These old eyes nothing see; see nothing true.
Get Perspectives; oh help your feeble sight;
Blind eyes make night as day, and day as night:
Turn to the light, and your old eyes renew.
Shake off hells spectacles, and better vieu
Your Lords, and service: had you light, and eyes,
How could you hate the truth, and love these lies?
Despise what you admire; admire what you despise.
329
IV
Their Kings are servants; but his servants Kings.Their rest an Iron Yoke; his Yoke your rest.
His wounds are salves: their salves are wounding stings.
His death brings life; their life death surely brings.
Their feast a pining fast: his fast a feast.
His servants blest when curst; theirs curst when blest.
Poor souls be wise: but if ye (fools) disdein
To serve this Lord in rest, serve those in payn.
Serve them in Hell, who scorn with him in Heaven to reign.
| Poetical works (1908) | |