The grand Tryal or, Poetical Exercitations upon the book of Job. Wherein, Suitable to each Text of that sacred Book, a modest Explanation, and Continuation of the several Discourses contained in it, is attempted by William Clark |
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| I. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| II. |
| IV. |
| V. | Cap. V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| III. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| IV. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| V. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
 | The grand Tryal |  |
Cap. V.
Consider then, and ponder well, I pray
These my discourses, marke me what I say:
Thy plagues I see, indeed, are very great
Yet is thy grief no less intemperate.
Others have been, and as thou art, now are,
For thy condition is not singular.
Many belov'd of God, whil'st here below,
Have suffered more, then thou didst ere yet know,
In mind, and body have endur'd much pain,
Yet none of them, as thou didst, did complaine.
And where are all the Saints, who now enjoy
Eternal rest? how did they here employ
Their time, when plagues so thick upon them fell,
Their lives became the Portraiture of Hell;
Why none of them did raile, as thou dost now,
But calmely would before their maker bow,
And gently all their blows receive. none ere
Of those did in their humours thus appear,
As thou dost now.
These my discourses, marke me what I say:
Thy plagues I see, indeed, are very great
Yet is thy grief no less intemperate.
Others have been, and as thou art, now are,
For thy condition is not singular.
Many belov'd of God, whil'st here below,
Have suffered more, then thou didst ere yet know,
In mind, and body have endur'd much pain,
Yet none of them, as thou didst, did complaine.
And where are all the Saints, who now enjoy
Eternal rest? how did they here employ
Their time, when plagues so thick upon them fell,
Their lives became the Portraiture of Hell;
Why none of them did raile, as thou dost now,
But calmely would before their maker bow,
And gently all their blows receive. none ere
Of those did in their humours thus appear,
As thou dost now.
For, when a man doth in affliction lye,
What bootest him, like a child, to weep, and cry?
Such houlings, and repinings sure are vaine,
And 'stead of easing, do encrease the pain.
But I've observ'd when any man of wealth
Is once depriv'd of riches, or of health:
Although before heed seem to represent
In all his actings something of a Saint.
Yet then he cryes, then he repines amain,
Then he complaines of poverty, and pain:
O then he railes upon that providence,
Which was, in former times, his sole defence.
For now—all sorrow, wrath, and desperation
He thinks on nothing less then restauration,
Whereas before he thought he was so sure,
His wealth to generations would endure.
What bootest him, like a child, to weep, and cry?
Such houlings, and repinings sure are vaine,
And 'stead of easing, do encrease the pain.
But I've observ'd when any man of wealth
Is once depriv'd of riches, or of health:
Although before heed seem to represent
In all his actings something of a Saint.
Yet then he cryes, then he repines amain,
Then he complaines of poverty, and pain:
O then he railes upon that providence,
Which was, in former times, his sole defence.
For now—all sorrow, wrath, and desperation
He thinks on nothing less then restauration,
Whereas before he thought he was so sure,
His wealth to generations would endure.
Well I have seen some Gallant in his pride
Insulsly laugh at all the world beside,
Fix'd, and firme-rooted, as he did suppose,
And proof against the batterie of his foes,
When, on a suddain providence would frowne,
And this same fool would tumble headlong down,
With all his sins about him, in a tryce,
Kill'd by the fall from glories precipice.
Insulsly laugh at all the world beside,
Fix'd, and firme-rooted, as he did suppose,
And proof against the batterie of his foes,
When, on a suddain providence would frowne,
And this same fool would tumble headlong down,
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Kill'd by the fall from glories precipice.
Then would I say this man deservedly
Doth fall, and with him all his family,
Is levelled with dust, because he did
In such vain, transitory things confide.
For by fair justice he shall be destroy'd,
And all his unjust purchases made voide,
Then, after he has justly forfeit all,
He, without pity shall most justly fall.
Doth fall, and with him all his family,
Is levelled with dust, because he did
In such vain, transitory things confide.
For by fair justice he shall be destroy'd,
And all his unjust purchases made voide,
Then, after he has justly forfeit all,
He, without pity shall most justly fall.
Those, who are hungry shall eat up his grain,
And reap the profit of his nine Months pain:
Nay they shall sweep his grounds, and fields so clean
As his poor children shall find nought to glean.
The thirsty travellers, who for rain doth gape,
Shall drink up all the substance of his grape.
And reap the profit of his nine Months pain:
Nay they shall sweep his grounds, and fields so clean
As his poor children shall find nought to glean.
The thirsty travellers, who for rain doth gape,
Shall drink up all the substance of his grape.
For thou must know afflictions do not come
By accident, as is suppos'd by some,
On any man, nor do Heavens noble laws
Allow that any one without a cause
Should suffer punishment,—no not at all,
There's no such thing, as that you fortune call:
'Tis a meer notion, a device of men
To palliate their sins, and entertain,
A proud opinion of their innocence,
And lay the blame of all on Providence,
Which they call fortune, and conclude from thence
When any are afflicted at the rate,
As thou art now, that they're unfortunate,
Unlucky, and I know not what—alace
Why should we with such fopperies, as these,
Abuse our selves, when certainly we know,
Who know there is a God, things are not so:
But that our God doth formally arraigne
For every sin convict, and punish men.
Then know—
By accident, as is suppos'd by some,
On any man, nor do Heavens noble laws
Allow that any one without a cause
Should suffer punishment,—no not at all,
There's no such thing, as that you fortune call:
'Tis a meer notion, a device of men
To palliate their sins, and entertain,
A proud opinion of their innocence,
And lay the blame of all on Providence,
Which they call fortune, and conclude from thence
When any are afflicted at the rate,
As thou art now, that they're unfortunate,
Unlucky, and I know not what—alace
Why should we with such fopperies, as these,
Abuse our selves, when certainly we know,
Who know there is a God, things are not so:
But that our God doth formally arraigne
For every sin convict, and punish men.
Then know—
That no affliction comes by accident,
But that all Judgements to our doors are sent
By rule of Heavens Court where information,
Is made, and prov'd, preceeding condemnation.
Besides as sparks, by nature upwards fly,
So man to sorrows born doth live and dye;
In a continued sweat of toyle, and care,
With dregs of anger, for his daily fare.
Tortures of mind, and body all at once
Do suck the marrow from his very bones:
Nor can he pleasure to himself project,
Or joy, and comfort, in this earth expect.
But that all Judgements to our doors are sent
By rule of Heavens Court where information,
Is made, and prov'd, preceeding condemnation.
Besides as sparks, by nature upwards fly,
So man to sorrows born doth live and dye;
In a continued sweat of toyle, and care,
With dregs of anger, for his daily fare.
Tortures of mind, and body all at once
Do suck the marrow from his very bones:
Nor can he pleasure to himself project,
Or joy, and comfort, in this earth expect.
Were I then in thy lamentable case,
I'd not repine, but humblie make address,
To my good God, from him I would demand
A patient mind, and learn to understand
From whence such floods of evils do proceed,
And in my sorrows I my sins would read.
I'd not repine, but humblie make address,
To my good God, from him I would demand
A patient mind, and learn to understand
From whence such floods of evils do proceed,
And in my sorrows I my sins would read.
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To him alone my self I would apply,
To whom the world belongs, who sits on High,
To whom all Creatures in subjection are,
Whose Jurisdiction doth exceed by far
All Powers on Earth; who things unsearchable
Performes, of which we are not capable
To give a Judgement, things beyond our reach,
Things, which to act no humane Art can Teach.
To whom the world belongs, who sits on High,
To whom all Creatures in subjection are,
Whose Jurisdiction doth exceed by far
All Powers on Earth; who things unsearchable
Performes, of which we are not capable
To give a Judgement, things beyond our reach,
Things, which to act no humane Art can Teach.
'Tis he, who makes the Rain from Clouds to fall,
By which the Earth made pregnant, yeelds us all
Our Hearts can wish, affords us dayly Bread,
Drink, Cloaths, and Med'cine, and what else we need
For Maintnance of that Fabrick, which he fram'd,
To Lodge the Soul, and it the Body nam'd.
—The Body,—O a thing most excellent!
For whose Subsistence, we should even torment
Our Souls: a very precious thing indeed,
That on the Labours of the Soul should feed!
The Body! a meer piece of useful Dust
Demis'd, for some time, to the Soul, in Trust,
Though for its use, the too kind Soul, at best,
Payes a severe, and dreadful Interest:
Whilst to afford it pleasure, legally
It forfaults its own true Felicity.
By which the Earth made pregnant, yeelds us all
Our Hearts can wish, affords us dayly Bread,
Drink, Cloaths, and Med'cine, and what else we need
For Maintnance of that Fabrick, which he fram'd,
To Lodge the Soul, and it the Body nam'd.
—The Body,—O a thing most excellent!
For whose Subsistence, we should even torment
Our Souls: a very precious thing indeed,
That on the Labours of the Soul should feed!
The Body! a meer piece of useful Dust
Demis'd, for some time, to the Soul, in Trust,
Though for its use, the too kind Soul, at best,
Payes a severe, and dreadful Interest:
Whilst to afford it pleasure, legally
It forfaults its own true Felicity.
What is't we hugg then? what do we esteem?
A dying thing, which scarce deserves a name!
A thing, so long as Soul doth it inspire,
Moves for a time, like Puppet on a Wyre;
That gone, it moves, it prats, it squeeks no more,
But a dull piece of Clay, as't was before,
Breathless, and Sapless on the Ground it lies,
Yet, in its Fall, its Maker glorifies,
As well, as in its Frame; because from thence,
We learn what Honour, and Obedience
We owe to him, who this fair Fabrick raises,
And by a Breath destroyes it when he pleases.
Besides, who'd not in Duty be exact,
When still before his Eyes he sees the Rack,
The Axe, the Gibbet, and in Mind doth feel
Sad apprehensions of the dreadful Wheel?
Is not our case the same? do we not see
How many thousand, Shapes of Death there be
Dayly presented to our view to show,
That after all, all to the Grave must go.
A dying thing, which scarce deserves a name!
A thing, so long as Soul doth it inspire,
Moves for a time, like Puppet on a Wyre;
That gone, it moves, it prats, it squeeks no more,
But a dull piece of Clay, as't was before,
Breathless, and Sapless on the Ground it lies,
Yet, in its Fall, its Maker glorifies,
As well, as in its Frame; because from thence,
We learn what Honour, and Obedience
We owe to him, who this fair Fabrick raises,
And by a Breath destroyes it when he pleases.
Besides, who'd not in Duty be exact,
When still before his Eyes he sees the Rack,
The Axe, the Gibbet, and in Mind doth feel
Sad apprehensions of the dreadful Wheel?
Is not our case the same? do we not see
How many thousand, Shapes of Death there be
Dayly presented to our view to show,
That after all, all to the Grave must go.
From this fair Topick, let us argue then.
He is our God, and we poor sinful men,
Therefore since to him we owe Life, and Breath,
We should live well, that, when invading Death
Approaches, he may find us on our Guard,
Not by his gastly looks to be out-dar'd.
For though he seize the Body, yet on high
The Soul shall live to perpetuity.
He is our God, and we poor sinful men,
Therefore since to him we owe Life, and Breath,
We should live well, that, when invading Death
Approaches, he may find us on our Guard,
Not by his gastly looks to be out-dar'd.
For though he seize the Body, yet on high
The Soul shall live to perpetuity.
'Tis he, the mighty God, 'tis he alone,
Who in the Heavens has set up his Throne,
From whence he orders all things, and doth raise
This man to honours, and that man debase;
That to th'afflicted he may comfort give,
And make those, whom the world abhorreth live.
Who in the Heavens has set up his Throne,
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This man to honours, and that man debase;
That to th'afflicted he may comfort give,
And make those, whom the world abhorreth live.
The subtile plottings of our knowing men
He disappoints, and makes their projects vain:
He laughs at all their consults, and despises—
Both them, and all their silly state devises.
So that what e're those Crocodiles project,
Their Machinations never take effect.
He disappoints, and makes their projects vain:
He laughs at all their consults, and despises—
Both them, and all their silly state devises.
So that what e're those Crocodiles project,
Their Machinations never take effect.
He spoiles their counsels, and makes all their wit
Like salt, whose savour's lost, down-right unfit
For any thing, save at a round of Ale,
To be the subject of some Country tale.
For the Worlds wisdom in Gods eyes is folly
Their Art but th'product of dull Melancholly.
Like salt, whose savour's lost, down-right unfit
For any thing, save at a round of Ale,
To be the subject of some Country tale.
For the Worlds wisdom in Gods eyes is folly
Their Art but th'product of dull Melancholly.
Their reasoning is notional, and vain
Erring in things even evident, and plain:
Things manifest, things clear, as noon-tide-light,
To them are dark, as to one in the night
Who nothing sees, gropes, but no rode can find,
And stands confounded betwixt raine, and wind,
Whil'st at each justling shrub his joints do tremble.
Thinking the Night-thieves, round him do assemble.
Erring in things even evident, and plain:
Things manifest, things clear, as noon-tide-light,
To them are dark, as to one in the night
Who nothing sees, gropes, but no rode can find,
And stands confounded betwixt raine, and wind,
Whil'st at each justling shrub his joints do tremble.
Thinking the Night-thieves, round him do assemble.
Lord what is all we brag of then for what
Keep we such toyl on earth?—is't only that
We may be thought more wise, than others are
And be esteemed wits, 'tis very fair:
A rare designe indeed, well worth our pain,
When after all we learn, or can retain
All our fine wisdom in Gods eyes is vain.
Keep we such toyl on earth?—is't only that
We may be thought more wise, than others are
And be esteemed wits, 'tis very fair:
A rare designe indeed, well worth our pain,
When after all we learn, or can retain
All our fine wisdom in Gods eyes is vain.
For when our Politicians counsel take
How they the just, and pious man may break,
Partly by law, partly by violence,
Th'Almighty soon appears in his defence:
He rescues him from all their calumnies
Their false Inditements, and the Batteries
Of their foul mouths, and powerfully withstands
The rude attaques of their all-seizing-hands,
That grasp at person, chattels, fame, and lands.
How they the just, and pious man may break,
Partly by law, partly by violence,
Th'Almighty soon appears in his defence:
He rescues him from all their calumnies
Their false Inditements, and the Batteries
Of their foul mouths, and powerfully withstands
The rude attaques of their all-seizing-hands,
That grasp at person, chattels, fame, and lands.
Thus from the snare the just man doth escape
And saves his meanes, for which those fools did gape,
As all had been even ready now to fall
Into their hands: whilst the unjust Cabal
Now disappointed of their former hope,
Are forc'd at length, their ravenous mouth to stop,
And all with shame confounded, to confesse
Gods justice, and their own vile foolishness.
Our God alone the just mans cause maintaines,
And with strong Bitt, and seasonable Reins,
He curbs the fury of th'oppressing beast,
Who, to enrich himself, would lay all waste.
Who formally denies that Laws were made
For such as him, to check his roving trade:
But boldly claimes all that his armes can take
And, in his Wars doth no distinction make
Betwixt his Allies, and his open foes,
But treates them all at the same rate, God knows,
Our God shall sure attaque this foolish thing,
Whil'st all his friends do yet his triumphs sing,
And 'midst his pleasures, make unwelcome death
Rob him of both his Lawrels, and his breath.
And saves his meanes, for which those fools did gape,
As all had been even ready now to fall
Into their hands: whilst the unjust Cabal
Now disappointed of their former hope,
Are forc'd at length, their ravenous mouth to stop,
And all with shame confounded, to confesse
Gods justice, and their own vile foolishness.
Our God alone the just mans cause maintaines,
And with strong Bitt, and seasonable Reins,
He curbs the fury of th'oppressing beast,
Who, to enrich himself, would lay all waste.
Who formally denies that Laws were made
For such as him, to check his roving trade:
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And, in his Wars doth no distinction make
Betwixt his Allies, and his open foes,
But treates them all at the same rate, God knows,
Our God shall sure attaque this foolish thing,
Whil'st all his friends do yet his triumphs sing,
And 'midst his pleasures, make unwelcome death
Rob him of both his Lawrels, and his breath.
Then since the case is thus, let's be content
With whatsoever plague, or punishment
Our God inflicts upon us, for, be sure,
To such as us his kindness doth endure.
O happy is that man, whom God corrects,
And for his leud, and sinful courses checks!
Thrice happy he, whom, when his sin abounds,
And makes him proud, God in his mercy wounds,
And brings him low, that on his former state,
In bed of sorrow he may meditate
Counting what time he hath in folly spent,
And, in return, how his sad punishment
Makes all his ballance. Let's then understand
Our selves, and patiently th'Almighties hand
Endure, and in our minds rest satisfy'd,
That for our good, we're with afflictions try'd.
With whatsoever plague, or punishment
Our God inflicts upon us, for, be sure,
To such as us his kindness doth endure.
O happy is that man, whom God corrects,
And for his leud, and sinful courses checks!
Thrice happy he, whom, when his sin abounds,
And makes him proud, God in his mercy wounds,
And brings him low, that on his former state,
In bed of sorrow he may meditate
Counting what time he hath in folly spent,
And, in return, how his sad punishment
Makes all his ballance. Let's then understand
Our selves, and patiently th'Almighties hand
Endure, and in our minds rest satisfy'd,
That for our good, we're with afflictions try'd.
For as he gives the wound, with the same hand
He binds it up: he never wants a band,
A Salve, a Plaster ready, in such cases,
Which he applyes to all th'affected places.
He wounds, he cures, makes sick, and doth restore
Men to their health; what can we ask for more?
He binds it up: he never wants a band,
A Salve, a Plaster ready, in such cases,
Which he applyes to all th'affected places.
He wounds, he cures, makes sick, and doth restore
Men to their health; what can we ask for more?
Though troubles upon troubles, woes, on woes
Should tumble on us, as the Ocean flows:
And the rude tempests of adversity
Should drive us on the rocks of poverty;
Where sure to suffer Shipwrack, we despair
Of all relief, then will our God take care
To rescue us, that so we may perceive
'Tis he alone, who doth his people save,
Let's praise him then, pray to him, and obey
His word, and we shall no more salvage pay,
Should tumble on us, as the Ocean flows:
And the rude tempests of adversity
Should drive us on the rocks of poverty;
Where sure to suffer Shipwrack, we despair
Of all relief, then will our God take care
To rescue us, that so we may perceive
'Tis he alone, who doth his people save,
Let's praise him then, pray to him, and obey
His word, and we shall no more salvage pay,
When by oppression all our meanes are seiz'd
And we, and all our familyes are sqees'd
Within the Compasse of a hazle nut,
For our Provisions, and our bread is cut,
Like Sugar-tablets, in small lozanges,
T'allay the hunger, which doth sore oppress
Our little ones, and makes them often cry,
With teares, for crums of bread, or else they dye:
Of which when each so hunger-starv'd, and pain'd
In graines, and scruples has its dividend,
These scrambling morsels rather doe incite
Then quash the fury of their appetite.
Whilst thus, I say, we hunger-sick shall lye
Under Deaths Talons, and upbraidingly
Our Enemies shall laugh out all around,
Whilst we, and ours do tear the very Ground,
For Foots, and Vermine, or what ever may
Detain the poor life but one single day;
Then shall our God appear, and furnish store
Of Bread for us, and all our Infants, more
Then we could even ha' wish'd, and let us see
Th'unjust for want of Food may dye, but he
Who trusts in God shall ne're want sustenance,
For I've been Young, in Age I now advance,
Yet all my time I never could observe
One man that fear'd our God for hunger starve.
Nor could I ever see the just mans Seed
Like those o'th wickeds offspring, begging Bread.
And we, and all our familyes are sqees'd
Within the Compasse of a hazle nut,
For our Provisions, and our bread is cut,
Like Sugar-tablets, in small lozanges,
T'allay the hunger, which doth sore oppress
Our little ones, and makes them often cry,
With teares, for crums of bread, or else they dye:
Of which when each so hunger-starv'd, and pain'd
In graines, and scruples has its dividend,
These scrambling morsels rather doe incite
Then quash the fury of their appetite.
Whilst thus, I say, we hunger-sick shall lye
Under Deaths Talons, and upbraidingly
36
Whilst we, and ours do tear the very Ground,
For Foots, and Vermine, or what ever may
Detain the poor life but one single day;
Then shall our God appear, and furnish store
Of Bread for us, and all our Infants, more
Then we could even ha' wish'd, and let us see
Th'unjust for want of Food may dye, but he
Who trusts in God shall ne're want sustenance,
For I've been Young, in Age I now advance,
Yet all my time I never could observe
One man that fear'd our God for hunger starve.
Nor could I ever see the just mans Seed
Like those o'th wickeds offspring, begging Bread.
Nay when the men of War shall roar around us,
And with their threatning Oaths shall so confound us,
As we shall not know whether we should flye
To save our Lives, and Goods—
When the enraged Sword shall hew down all,
And Old, and Young do by its fury fall;
Then shall the Lord make Angels us Environ
To Guard us from the blows o'th' dreadful Iron
So, whilst behind, on both sides, and before
The hungry steal, our Neighbours shall devour
To us, and ours, God shall be Tutelar,
And save us from all miseries of War.
And with their threatning Oaths shall so confound us,
As we shall not know whether we should flye
To save our Lives, and Goods—
When the enraged Sword shall hew down all,
And Old, and Young do by its fury fall;
Then shall the Lord make Angels us Environ
To Guard us from the blows o'th' dreadful Iron
So, whilst behind, on both sides, and before
The hungry steal, our Neighbours shall devour
To us, and ours, God shall be Tutelar,
And save us from all miseries of War.
Nay further, when another Sword doth rage
And with us doth more cunningly engage;
The Sword o'th' Tongue then that of Steel, more feirce,
(For this the Body, that the Soul doth peirce)
A killing Sword, and yet invisible;
A Sword, whose wound is inperceptible,
By outward Signs: like Thunder, wounds the Heart,
The Body still untouch'd in any part.
A Sword that kills us always unprepar'd
For fight, whose blows the bravest cannot ward.
A Sword, that whet with Malice, day, and night
Is still in Edge, yet ne're within the sight
Of him it wounds, the subtlest of all ills,
Like {Basilisk}, unseen, it sees, and kills.
Amuseless Sword in open fields, and tame,
But in dark Rooms makes havock of our Fame.
The Champions, who this famous Sword do use
Are the 'meer Dross of Nature, the Refuse
Of Mankind, who by secret Calumnies,
Foul Characters, false Oaths, and serious lyes,
Vain Apprehensions, Jealousies, and Fears,
Endeavour to set all the World by th'Ears.
Whilst the false decoyes hugg themselves to see
The wish'd effects of their vile Treachery.
Poor Caterpillars!—who 'cause no man can
Find out their Wakes, escape th'revenge of man,
Yet God has Spyes on those malicious fools,
Ferrets them out of all their lurking Holes,
Though here they scorn the Ear, the Sight, the Scent,
Yet God will bring such out to Punishment,
Those ugly crawling Toads, with malice swell'd
Shall be at length destroy'd in open field;
To show how God abhors the very Race
Of Back-biters, as they still shun the Face
Of those they injure, and will vindicate
The just from their aspersions soon, or late.
From this same Sword, which others doth devour,
Thou shalt be free, and fear its Edge no more,
Than those, who in Proof-armour do not feel
The furious Gashes of the Murdring Steel.
And with us doth more cunningly engage;
The Sword o'th' Tongue then that of Steel, more feirce,
(For this the Body, that the Soul doth peirce)
A killing Sword, and yet invisible;
A Sword, whose wound is inperceptible,
By outward Signs: like Thunder, wounds the Heart,
The Body still untouch'd in any part.
A Sword that kills us always unprepar'd
For fight, whose blows the bravest cannot ward.
A Sword, that whet with Malice, day, and night
Is still in Edge, yet ne're within the sight
Of him it wounds, the subtlest of all ills,
Like {Basilisk}, unseen, it sees, and kills.
Amuseless Sword in open fields, and tame,
But in dark Rooms makes havock of our Fame.
The Champions, who this famous Sword do use
Are the 'meer Dross of Nature, the Refuse
Of Mankind, who by secret Calumnies,
Foul Characters, false Oaths, and serious lyes,
Vain Apprehensions, Jealousies, and Fears,
Endeavour to set all the World by th'Ears.
Whilst the false decoyes hugg themselves to see
The wish'd effects of their vile Treachery.
Poor Caterpillars!—who 'cause no man can
Find out their Wakes, escape th'revenge of man,
Yet God has Spyes on those malicious fools,
Ferrets them out of all their lurking Holes,
37
Yet God will bring such out to Punishment,
Those ugly crawling Toads, with malice swell'd
Shall be at length destroy'd in open field;
To show how God abhors the very Race
Of Back-biters, as they still shun the Face
Of those they injure, and will vindicate
The just from their aspersions soon, or late.
From this same Sword, which others doth devour,
Thou shalt be free, and fear its Edge no more,
Than those, who in Proof-armour do not feel
The furious Gashes of the Murdring Steel.
But when both War, and Famine do appear,
And Food shall be intolerably dear:
When wicked men shall howl, and make a noise,
For lack of Bread, thou freely shalt rejoyce,
And be of want of Meat no more afraid
Than those, who have their Stores in Garners laid.
And Food shall be intolerably dear:
When wicked men shall howl, and make a noise,
For lack of Bread, thou freely shalt rejoyce,
And be of want of Meat no more afraid
Than those, who have their Stores in Garners laid.
The very stones o'th' field shall seem to be
At such time, in firm allyance with thee,
And in their several stations shall produce
Something, that to thy welfare may conduce:
Each Beast its throat shall offer to the Knife,
With emulation; to support thy Life.
At such time, in firm allyance with thee,
And in their several stations shall produce
Something, that to thy welfare may conduce:
Each Beast its throat shall offer to the Knife,
With emulation; to support thy Life.
In fine shalt be so happy, thou shalt know
No want of any Blessing here below,
Firm peace within thy walls, thy family
Shall live with thee in perfect amity:
All thy Relations shall thee kindly own,
And to undo thy Fame shall joyn with none.
As some, who on small Piques, and petty Jars
Do lay foundations of fierce, lasting Wars;
Against their nighest Friends, and Blood-Relations
And will not hearken to accommodations:
Whose wretched malice doth admit no change,
But with a most implacable revenge,
Pursue their foolish quarrels, never cease
From Railing, and have in their Minds no Peace.
No Wars like those 'mongst Friends, no Piques so hot,
As those in the same Family begot:
When Blood it self in several streams divides,
And checks its common Course, by Counter-tides,
Of Envy, Malice, Pride, Revenge, and Hate,
O how much to be pitied is the State
Of that accurs'd unhappy Family,
Where such sad Piques have broke its Unity.
No want of any Blessing here below,
Firm peace within thy walls, thy family
Shall live with thee in perfect amity:
All thy Relations shall thee kindly own,
And to undo thy Fame shall joyn with none.
As some, who on small Piques, and petty Jars
Do lay foundations of fierce, lasting Wars;
Against their nighest Friends, and Blood-Relations
And will not hearken to accommodations:
Whose wretched malice doth admit no change,
But with a most implacable revenge,
Pursue their foolish quarrels, never cease
From Railing, and have in their Minds no Peace.
No Wars like those 'mongst Friends, no Piques so hot,
As those in the same Family begot:
When Blood it self in several streams divides,
And checks its common Course, by Counter-tides,
Of Envy, Malice, Pride, Revenge, and Hate,
O how much to be pitied is the State
Of that accurs'd unhappy Family,
Where such sad Piques have broke its Unity.
Thou shalt be ignorant of all such, and scarce
Think there are such things as domestick Jars,
Thy Blood shall in a peaceful Channel flow,
And all its Course no other Banks shall know,
Than those of Love, and Friendship, all thy Life
Shall have no Quarrels, and perceive no Strife.
Think there are such things as domestick Jars,
Thy Blood shall in a peaceful Channel flow,
And all its Course no other Banks shall know,
Than those of Love, and Friendship, all thy Life
Shall have no Quarrels, and perceive no Strife.
38
Shalt see thy loving issue multiply
Into a fair, and numerous Family;
Whose large extent should one intend to trace,
Might as well reckon every pile of Grass
That grows ith' field, or calculate the motion
Of waves, and billows in the foaming Ocean.
Into a fair, and numerous Family;
Whose large extent should one intend to trace,
Might as well reckon every pile of Grass
That grows ith' field, or calculate the motion
Of waves, and billows in the foaming Ocean.
Full fraught with years, at length thou shalt descend
Into the pleasant grave, and put an end
To those enjoyments of thy mortal state,
As those, who with their Feasting satiate
Lye down to sleep, or as the Corn is brought
Into the Barn, when it by time is wrought
To full perfection: or as Fruits do fall
From Trees when over-ripe: so truly shall
Thy exit with felicity be crown'd,
And thou shalt sleep most sweetly under ground.
Into the pleasant grave, and put an end
To those enjoyments of thy mortal state,
As those, who with their Feasting satiate
Lye down to sleep, or as the Corn is brought
Into the Barn, when it by time is wrought
To full perfection: or as Fruits do fall
From Trees when over-ripe: so truly shall
Thy exit with felicity be crown'd,
And thou shalt sleep most sweetly under ground.
| The grand Tryal | |