Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thus spoke the Sov'reign Lord; his Mandate run
To summon all the World, from whence begun
His Course, to where descends the setting Sun.
From Sion God in matchless Glory shone:
Nor shall in Silence lead his Triumph on;
A Stream of rapid Flame before devours,
He wraps himself in Storms and sable Show'rs.
On Heav'n above, and our inferior Ball,
He for his People shall to Judgment call:
Summon my Saints who have a Contract made
With me, by Victims on my Altar lay'd.
The very Heav'n his Justice shall aver:
For God himself is now the Arbiter.
Hear, O my People! while I speak, while I
Myself against thee, Israel! testify:
For I am God, myself thy Deity.
Nor thy neglected Sacrifice I claim,
Nor Holocausts to feed the constant Flame:
No Bullock from thy Stalls, nor from thy Cotes
Demand I now the Leaders of thy Goats.
For mine is ev'ry Beast of ev'ry Kind
To sylvan Laires or Forest-Walls confin'd:
And mine are all the Herds whose Number fills
The spacious Pastures of a thousand Hills.
The Fowls are mine upon the Mountain Brow,
And mine the Savages in Fields below.

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Did Hunger urge, to thee shou'd I complain,
When Earth is mine, and all its Stores contain?
Or shall the Flesh of Beeves be my Repaste?
Or shall the Blood of Goats delight my Taste?
On God the Tribute of thy Thanks bestow;
And to the Pow'r most high perform thy Vow:
Then call on me, when Trouble clouds thy Days;
And find my Aid, and render me thy Praise.
Then to the Impious thus. Hadst thou a Cause
To name my Covenant, or preach my Laws?
Who still averse to Discipline, behind
Hast scatter'd my Instruction in the Wind.
Thou, who with full Consent and conscious Eyes,
Hast shar'd the Robber's and Adult'rer's Prize.
Thy Mouth promotes Impiety and Guile:
There dost thou sit thy Brother to revile;
Thy very Brother of thy Mother born
Is by thy Calumnies expos'd to Scorn.
Such were thy Deeds, which I in Silence view'd:
And thence did thy relentless Heart conclude
That unconcern'd I to thy Crimes agree;
And by itself presum'd to judge of me.
But to reprove thee, now thy Deeds shall rise,
And open all their Horrors to thy Eyes.
O! turn your Thoughts, and all on this reflect,
Too prone your great Creator to neglect!
E'er yet he comes to rend the trembling Prey,
When all Assistance shall be far away.
'Tis he the noblest Adoration pays
Who offers up the Sacrifice of Praise:
And for the Man who guides his Actions right,
The saving Pow'r of God shall bless his Sight.