Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

So Mardocheus throughout all the Land
Dispers'd his Letters, with a strickt command
To celebrate these two dayes memory
With Feasts, and gifts, and yeerely jollity,
That after ages may record that day,
And keepe it from the rust of time, that they
Which shall succeed, may ground their holy mirth
Vpon the joyes, those happy dayes brought forth,
Which chang'd their sadnes, and black nights of sorrow,
Into the brightnesse of a gladsome morrow;
Whereto the Iews (to whom these letters came)
Gave due observance, and did soone proclame
Their sacred Festivalls, in memory
Of that dayes joy, and joyfull victory:
And since the Lots, (that Haman did abuse,
To know the dismall day, which to the Iewes
Might fall most fatall, and, to his intent,
Least unpropitious) were in th'event
Crost with a higher Fate, than blinded Chance,
To worke his ruine, their deliverance:
They therefore in remembrance of the Lot
(Whose hop'd-for sad event succeeded not)
The solemne feasts of Purim did invest,
And by the name of Purim call'd their Feast;

165

Which to observe with sacred Complement,
And ceremoniall rites, their soules indent,
And firmly' inroll the happy memory
Ith' hearts of their succeeding Progeny,
That time (the enemy of mortall things)
May not with hov'ring of his nimble wings,
Beat downe the deare memoriall of that time,
But keepe it flowring in perpetuall prime.

Now, lest this shining day in times progresse
Perchance be clouded with forgetfulnesse,
Or lest the gauled Persians should debate
The bloody slaughter, and re-ulcerate
In after-dayes, their former misery,
And blurre the glory of this dayes memory,
The Queene and Mordecai sent Letters out
Into the Land, dispersed round about
To re-confirme, and fully ratifie
This feast of Purim, to eternity;
That it to after-ages may appeare,
When sinners bend their hearts, heav'n bowes his eare.

Medit. 19.

And are the Lawes of God defective then?
Or was the Paper scant, or dull the Pen
That wrote those sacred lines? Could imperfection
Lurk closly there, where heav'n hath giv'n direction
How comes it then new feasts are celebrated,
Vnmention'd in the Law, and uncreated
By him that made the Law compleat, and just,
Not to be chang'd as brain-sicke mortalls lust?
Is not heavens deepest curse with death to boot,
Denounc'd to him that takes from, or ads too't?

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True 'tis; the Law of God's the rule and squire,
Whereby to limit Mans uncurb'd desire,
And with a gentle hand doth justly paize
The ballances of his unbevell'd wayes,

True 'tis accurs'd, and thrice accurs'd be he
That shall detract, or change such Lawes, as be
Directive for his Worship, or concerne
His holy Service, these we strictly learne
Within our constant brest to keepe inshrin'd,
These in all seasons, and for all times binde:
But Lawes (although Divine) that doe respect
The publike rest, and properly direct,
As Statutes politike, doe make relation
To times and persons, places, and occasion:
The brazen Serpent, which, by Gods command,
Was builded up, was by the Prophets hand
Beat downe againe, as impious, and impure,
When it became an Idoll, not a Cure.

A morall Law needs no more warranty,
Then lawfull givers, and conveniency,
(Not crossing the Divine:) It lies in Kings,
To act, and to inhibit all such things
As in his Princely wisedome shall seeme best,
And most vantagious to the publike rest,
And what before was an indifferent thing,
His law makes good or bad: A lawfull King
Is Gods Liev-tenant; in his sacred eare
God whispers oft, and keepes his presence there.

To breake a lawfull Princes just Command,
Is brokage of a sinne, at second hand.