A paraphrase on the Book of Job As likewise on the Songs of Moses, Deborah, David: On Four Select Psalms: Some Chapters of Isaiah, and the Third Chapter of Habakkuk. By Sir Richard Blackmore |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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THE Song of MOSES PARAPHRAS'D. |
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| LIII. |
 | A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
239
THE Song of MOSES PARAPHRAS'D.
Attend, O Heav'ns, and you Empyreal Sphears
Did you possess as many list'ning Ears,
As Starry Eyes, all, as you roll along,
Should be employ'd to hear my following Song.
To my important words a while attend,
And back my Notes in tuneful Ecchoes send.
Peace, ye tumultuous Waters of the Deep,
A while ye yelling Monsters silence keep,
And let the Billows roll, and rock themselves asleep.
Be still, ye Earthquakes, in the Caves beneath,
Ye Winds be husht, and stop your stormy Breath.
Thunders, your bellowing, deaf'ning Noise forbear,
Tempests be gone, and leave in Peace the Air;
That so the quiet Earth, and Air, and Sea,
Without disturbance may attention pay,
Whilst I th' Almighty's wondrous Deeds display.
Did you possess as many list'ning Ears,
As Starry Eyes, all, as you roll along,
Should be employ'd to hear my following Song.
To my important words a while attend,
And back my Notes in tuneful Ecchoes send.
Peace, ye tumultuous Waters of the Deep,
A while ye yelling Monsters silence keep,
And let the Billows roll, and rock themselves asleep.
Be still, ye Earthquakes, in the Caves beneath,
Ye Winds be husht, and stop your stormy Breath.
Thunders, your bellowing, deaf'ning Noise forbear,
Tempests be gone, and leave in Peace the Air;
That so the quiet Earth, and Air, and Sea,
Without disturbance may attention pay,
Whilst I th' Almighty's wondrous Deeds display.
And let not my Divine Discourse be vain,
Let it distill as Dew, and drop as Rain,
That in their grassy Garments cloaths the Hills,
And with rich Fruits the smiling Vally fills.
Whilst I to all the World aloud proclaim
His Majesty, his great and awful Name,
Whilst I his Triumphs sing, ye Tribes, do you
To God ascribe the Pow'r and Glory due.
Let it distill as Dew, and drop as Rain,
240
And with rich Fruits the smiling Vally fills.
Whilst I to all the World aloud proclaim
His Majesty, his great and awful Name,
Whilst I his Triumphs sing, ye Tribes, do you
To God ascribe the Pow'r and Glory due.
God is a Rock unchang'd by Ages past,
And by the future shall unshaken last.
Perfect are all his Works, and all his Ways;
From Truth's Eternal Rule he never strays.
Upright and Equal all his Acts appear,
He's just, when kind, and gracious, when severe.
Therefore, ye Sons of Jacob, be it known
On your own heads you've pull'd Destruction down.
Your black Offences have incens'd your God,
And forc'd his hand to take his vengeful Rod.
Say not that yours, the Faults of Children are,
Which a kind Father is induc'd to spare:
Your Crimson Spots, your foul and loathsome stains
Tell the rank Poison that infects your Veins.
Your unexampled Contumacy shows
You are not Children, but invet'rate Foes.
Th' Almighty's Goodness do you thus despise,
Ah foolish Generation and unwise!
Your Great Deliverer do you thus requite?
His Pow'r and Mercy thus perversly slight?
You by a vast expence of Wonders bought,
He from your Bondage back from Egypt brought.
He then advanc'd you to Imperial Sway,
And made the Pagan Kings your Laws obey.
From all Mankind he chose you for his own,
And did your Sons with Pow'r and Plenty crown.
Consult our antient Fathers, to the source
Of our recorded Story have recourse:
You'll find when God did with a lib'ral hand
Among the Nations give the parted Land,
He Canaan's happy Region did divide,
Where Jacob's Offspring should at last reside.
He from the Pagan did his People bound,
And for himself fenc'd this Inclosure round,
And blest with his Abode the sacred Ground.
To Wealth and Pow'r he Israel did advance,
And with his Gifts enrich'd his own Inheritance.
And by the future shall unshaken last.
Perfect are all his Works, and all his Ways;
From Truth's Eternal Rule he never strays.
Upright and Equal all his Acts appear,
He's just, when kind, and gracious, when severe.
Therefore, ye Sons of Jacob, be it known
On your own heads you've pull'd Destruction down.
Your black Offences have incens'd your God,
And forc'd his hand to take his vengeful Rod.
Say not that yours, the Faults of Children are,
Which a kind Father is induc'd to spare:
Your Crimson Spots, your foul and loathsome stains
Tell the rank Poison that infects your Veins.
Your unexampled Contumacy shows
You are not Children, but invet'rate Foes.
Th' Almighty's Goodness do you thus despise,
Ah foolish Generation and unwise!
Your Great Deliverer do you thus requite?
His Pow'r and Mercy thus perversly slight?
You by a vast expence of Wonders bought,
He from your Bondage back from Egypt brought.
241
And made the Pagan Kings your Laws obey.
From all Mankind he chose you for his own,
And did your Sons with Pow'r and Plenty crown.
Consult our antient Fathers, to the source
Of our recorded Story have recourse:
You'll find when God did with a lib'ral hand
Among the Nations give the parted Land,
He Canaan's happy Region did divide,
Where Jacob's Offspring should at last reside.
He from the Pagan did his People bound,
And for himself fenc'd this Inclosure round,
And blest with his Abode the sacred Ground.
To Wealth and Pow'r he Israel did advance,
And with his Gifts enrich'd his own Inheritance.
To seek out Jacob he the Desart past,
And found him in a lonesome yelling Wast,
With pain and want, and servile Chains opprest,
A Prey to every fierce Egyptian Beast.
God with Compassion mov'd to such distress,
Led the lost Stranger thro' the Wilderness.
He shielded him with his resistless Might,
And to direct him to proceed aright,
He on his Mind diffus'd his Heav'nly Light.
He did his Wants and Pleasures too supply,
And kept him as the Apple of his Eye.
See as an Eagle o'er her young ones flys,
Spreads out her Wings, and flutters in the Skys.
How from their Nest she does her Offspring bear,
Their Courage to provoke, and make 'em dare
To try their Wings, and trust themselves in Air:
So did th' Almighty Jacob's Sons excite,
From Egypt's Prisons to attempt their flight:
Which he assisted with a Father's Care,
And did their way thro' parting Waves prepare.
He thro' the pathless Desart was their guide,
And when the Tribes for Egypt's Onions cry'd,
He in the Wilderness his Table spread,
And in his Airy Ovens bak'd the Bread,
With which th' ungrateful Murmurers were fed.
And found him in a lonesome yelling Wast,
With pain and want, and servile Chains opprest,
A Prey to every fierce Egyptian Beast.
God with Compassion mov'd to such distress,
Led the lost Stranger thro' the Wilderness.
He shielded him with his resistless Might,
And to direct him to proceed aright,
He on his Mind diffus'd his Heav'nly Light.
He did his Wants and Pleasures too supply,
And kept him as the Apple of his Eye.
See as an Eagle o'er her young ones flys,
Spreads out her Wings, and flutters in the Skys.
242
Their Courage to provoke, and make 'em dare
To try their Wings, and trust themselves in Air:
So did th' Almighty Jacob's Sons excite,
From Egypt's Prisons to attempt their flight:
Which he assisted with a Father's Care,
And did their way thro' parting Waves prepare.
He thro' the pathless Desart was their guide,
And when the Tribes for Egypt's Onions cry'd,
He in the Wilderness his Table spread,
And in his Airy Ovens bak'd the Bread,
With which th' ungrateful Murmurers were fed.
Then marching onward with a mighty hand,
He led them to possess a fertile Land.
There they the vanquish'd Heathen Lords pursu'd,
Reduc'd their Towns, and their strong Forts subdu'd,
That they the fruitful Region might enjoy,
And with delights their ravish'd Senses cloy.
A Soil which Nature's choicest Favours crown,
With Floods of Milk and Hony overflown:
Hony, that runs in yellow, fragrant Seas,
From out the holes of Rocks and hollow Trees.
Bath'd in their Oyl their chearful Faces shone,
And with the Grape's rich blood they warm'd their own.
And yet the Tribes by gracious Heav'n carest,
Rever'd abroad, at home with Plenty blest,
Grew fat and vicious, like a pamper'd Beast.
They all the Bounds of grateful Duty broke,
Spurn'd at their Lord, and kick'd against his Yoke.
Strange Gods inveigled their perfidious Heart
The Worship of th' Almighty to desert;
Tho' he had unexampled Kindness shown,
And had espous'd their Int'rests, as his own.
Then in his Breast fierce Jealousy began,
The Rage of God, as well as 'tis of Man.
He led them to possess a fertile Land.
There they the vanquish'd Heathen Lords pursu'd,
Reduc'd their Towns, and their strong Forts subdu'd,
That they the fruitful Region might enjoy,
And with delights their ravish'd Senses cloy.
A Soil which Nature's choicest Favours crown,
With Floods of Milk and Hony overflown:
Hony, that runs in yellow, fragrant Seas,
From out the holes of Rocks and hollow Trees.
Bath'd in their Oyl their chearful Faces shone,
And with the Grape's rich blood they warm'd their own.
And yet the Tribes by gracious Heav'n carest,
Rever'd abroad, at home with Plenty blest,
Grew fat and vicious, like a pamper'd Beast.
They all the Bounds of grateful Duty broke,
Spurn'd at their Lord, and kick'd against his Yoke.
243
The Worship of th' Almighty to desert;
Tho' he had unexampled Kindness shown,
And had espous'd their Int'rests, as his own.
Then in his Breast fierce Jealousy began,
The Rage of God, as well as 'tis of Man.
They impious Adoration prostrate pay,
And Sacrifices in their Temples slay
To foul Infernal Fiends, that there abide,
And in the Mock-Divinitys reside.
The Fools, the Gods they serve, themselves create,
All upstart Deitys of modern Date.
Gods the productions of fantastic Fear,
Not Gods above, but manufactur'd here.
And Sacrifices in their Temples slay
To foul Infernal Fiends, that there abide,
And in the Mock-Divinitys reside.
The Fools, the Gods they serve, themselves create,
All upstart Deitys of modern Date.
Gods the productions of fantastic Fear,
Not Gods above, but manufactur'd here.
But their Celestial Father they forgot,
Who their unthankful Tribes from Egypt brought.
Who as a Rock did them in danger hide,
Remove their Fears, and for their Wants provide.
Who gave them Riches with a bounteous Hand,
Rais'd them to Honour, and to wide Command.
Such their Perversness and Offences were,
That God his People, once his tender Care,
In his fierce Indignation did disclaim,
And threw his Children off, his Children but in Name.
Henceforth, he said, I will conceal my Face,
And hide my self from this unfaithful Race.
Then they, and all the Nations round shall see
The sad Event of their Apostacy.
From my Protection and my Favour cast,
Which they have long abus'd, they shall at last,
The dreadful fruits of their Rebellions tast.
Who their unthankful Tribes from Egypt brought.
Who as a Rock did them in danger hide,
Remove their Fears, and for their Wants provide.
Who gave them Riches with a bounteous Hand,
Rais'd them to Honour, and to wide Command.
Such their Perversness and Offences were,
That God his People, once his tender Care,
In his fierce Indignation did disclaim,
And threw his Children off, his Children but in Name.
Henceforth, he said, I will conceal my Face,
And hide my self from this unfaithful Race.
Then they, and all the Nations round shall see
The sad Event of their Apostacy.
244
Which they have long abus'd, they shall at last,
The dreadful fruits of their Rebellions tast.
Since the perverse and stubborn Tribes agree,
To fire my Soul with Rage and Jealousy,
Imaginary Gods while they adore,
And to their Fictions give Almighty Pow'r;
In like designs against them I'll engage,
And will their Sons with Jealousy enrage.
The Time will come when I'll no more confine
My Favours and Regard to Jacob's Line,
To grieve their Sons, my Blessing I'll dispence
Among a salvage People void of Sense.
I'll, like my Sun, spread my inlightning Grace
On every Nation sprung from Adam's Race.
To fire my Soul with Rage and Jealousy,
Imaginary Gods while they adore,
And to their Fictions give Almighty Pow'r;
In like designs against them I'll engage,
And will their Sons with Jealousy enrage.
The Time will come when I'll no more confine
My Favours and Regard to Jacob's Line,
To grieve their Sons, my Blessing I'll dispence
Among a salvage People void of Sense.
I'll, like my Sun, spread my inlightning Grace
On every Nation sprung from Adam's Race.
On thee, O Jacob, I thy angry God,
Vast heaps of heavy Mischief will unload.
For kindled by my Wrath a Fire shall burn
The Forrests down, and Hills to Cinders turn.
It thro' the Bowels of the Earth shall spread,
And scorch the cold Apartments of the Dead.
All Nature's Frame shall my fierce Anger feel,
And surfeited with Wrath, the drunken Earth shall reel.
I all my Stores and Arsenals will drain,
To pour Destruction down, and deadly Pain.
I'll from my Quiver all my Arrows send,
And Israel to destroy will all my Vengeance spend.
Some shall by ling'ring Famine wasted ly,
And shall not, till 'tis late, have leave to dy.
Their Air shall be infected, and the Breath
That fed their Life, shall now give certain Death.
Fevers in livid, poisonous Steams convey'd,
And burning Plagues their Dwellings shall invade,
If any shou'd these foremost Plagues outlive,
I'll to the Forrest Beasts Commissions give,
And to the Serpents that in Caves abide,
Or in the Dust their speckled Terrors hide,
Th' Apostate Sons of Jacob to devour,
That slight my Favours, and defy my Pow'r.
If these Domestic Mischiefs can't destroy
This stubborn Nation, I'll the Sword employ.
I'll bring in sure Destruction from afar,
And all the Terrors of resistless War.
Their Innocence in vain the Virgins plead,
Young Men their Youth, the Old their Hoary Head.
Pierc'd with the Sword the sucking Infant crys,
And in th' expiring Mother's Bosom dys.
I from the Earth would these Apostates drive,
And leave no Soul of Jacob's Line alive;
Did not I fear the Heathen would blaspheme,
Reproach my Conduct, and my Wrath condemn.
That they would vaunt, and say their mighty hand
Israel subdu'd, and chas'd him from his Land.
Vast heaps of heavy Mischief will unload.
For kindled by my Wrath a Fire shall burn
The Forrests down, and Hills to Cinders turn.
It thro' the Bowels of the Earth shall spread,
And scorch the cold Apartments of the Dead.
All Nature's Frame shall my fierce Anger feel,
And surfeited with Wrath, the drunken Earth shall reel.
I all my Stores and Arsenals will drain,
To pour Destruction down, and deadly Pain.
I'll from my Quiver all my Arrows send,
And Israel to destroy will all my Vengeance spend.
245
And shall not, till 'tis late, have leave to dy.
Their Air shall be infected, and the Breath
That fed their Life, shall now give certain Death.
Fevers in livid, poisonous Steams convey'd,
And burning Plagues their Dwellings shall invade,
If any shou'd these foremost Plagues outlive,
I'll to the Forrest Beasts Commissions give,
And to the Serpents that in Caves abide,
Or in the Dust their speckled Terrors hide,
Th' Apostate Sons of Jacob to devour,
That slight my Favours, and defy my Pow'r.
If these Domestic Mischiefs can't destroy
This stubborn Nation, I'll the Sword employ.
I'll bring in sure Destruction from afar,
And all the Terrors of resistless War.
Their Innocence in vain the Virgins plead,
Young Men their Youth, the Old their Hoary Head.
Pierc'd with the Sword the sucking Infant crys,
And in th' expiring Mother's Bosom dys.
I from the Earth would these Apostates drive,
And leave no Soul of Jacob's Line alive;
Did not I fear the Heathen would blaspheme,
Reproach my Conduct, and my Wrath condemn.
That they would vaunt, and say their mighty hand
Israel subdu'd, and chas'd him from his Land.
For Jacob's void of Sense, and does reject
Th' Advice by which he should his ways direct.
O that these unconsidering Tribes were wise!
O that they knew wherein their Int'rest lyes!
That they to wholesome Counsels would attend,
Think on their Ways, and on their later End!
That they would thus reflect, God's vengeful Blow
Is sure and fatal, be it ne'er so slow.
The Debt of Vengeance does by his delay
Augment the Sum, which he at last will pay.
Th' Advice by which he should his ways direct.
246
O that they knew wherein their Int'rest lyes!
That they to wholesome Counsels would attend,
Think on their Ways, and on their later End!
That they would thus reflect, God's vengeful Blow
Is sure and fatal, be it ne'er so slow.
The Debt of Vengeance does by his delay
Augment the Sum, which he at last will pay.
How should a Man a Thousand chase, and two
Ten Thousand flying Enemys pursue,
Had not their God in Wrath withdrawn his Aid
And their high Fences flat and open laid;
Had he not shut them up in Holes and Caves,
Or sold 'em to th' insulting Foe for Slaves?
For, let our Foes be Judges, they'll declare
That to our God, their own inferiour are.
This by th' Suffrings which they undergo,
Their conquer'd Towns and routed Armys know.
Had he been pleas'd among us to abide,
Conquest had still attended Israel's side.
'Tis from our selves alone our Suff'rings spring,
For Sin at last will sure Destruction bring.
Ten Thousand flying Enemys pursue,
Had not their God in Wrath withdrawn his Aid
And their high Fences flat and open laid;
Had he not shut them up in Holes and Caves,
Or sold 'em to th' insulting Foe for Slaves?
For, let our Foes be Judges, they'll declare
That to our God, their own inferiour are.
This by th' Suffrings which they undergo,
Their conquer'd Towns and routed Armys know.
Had he been pleas'd among us to abide,
Conquest had still attended Israel's side.
'Tis from our selves alone our Suff'rings spring,
For Sin at last will sure Destruction bring.
I planted Jacob as a noble Vine,
Expecting thence a rich and gen'rous Wine,
But 'tis degenerate, and a sourer Juice
The Vines in Sodom's Fields did ne'er produce.
No baser Stock did in Gomorrah grow;
Wormwood and Gall from its prest Clusters flow.
No ranker Poison wild Arabia yields
Than this, that grows in Palestina's Fields.
Their Wine outdoes the Venom Asps afford,
Or that, with which the Serpent's Teeth are stor'd.
But tho' I suffer long they grosly err,
That thence shall their Impunity infer.
Their Wickedness exactly I record,
Their Crimes are safely with my Treasure stor'd,
Next to the Caves where I my Vengeance hoard.
To me belongs to punish and reward,
The Debt is ne'er forgotten, tho' deferr'd.
Vengeance digests, and strengthens as it lies,
And will at last to full Perfection rise.
Sin and Destruction still together go,
Vengeance is ripe, whenever Sin is so.
The black and dismal Day approaches near,
When Justice in its Terrors will appear.
A Day of greater Sorrow and Distress
Than Fear can apprehend, or Words express.
Then suff'ring Israel will in Anguish say,
I did not pardon, tho' I did delay.
Expecting thence a rich and gen'rous Wine,
But 'tis degenerate, and a sourer Juice
The Vines in Sodom's Fields did ne'er produce.
No baser Stock did in Gomorrah grow;
Wormwood and Gall from its prest Clusters flow.
247
Than this, that grows in Palestina's Fields.
Their Wine outdoes the Venom Asps afford,
Or that, with which the Serpent's Teeth are stor'd.
But tho' I suffer long they grosly err,
That thence shall their Impunity infer.
Their Wickedness exactly I record,
Their Crimes are safely with my Treasure stor'd,
Next to the Caves where I my Vengeance hoard.
To me belongs to punish and reward,
The Debt is ne'er forgotten, tho' deferr'd.
Vengeance digests, and strengthens as it lies,
And will at last to full Perfection rise.
Sin and Destruction still together go,
Vengeance is ripe, whenever Sin is so.
The black and dismal Day approaches near,
When Justice in its Terrors will appear.
A Day of greater Sorrow and Distress
Than Fear can apprehend, or Words express.
Then suff'ring Israel will in Anguish say,
I did not pardon, tho' I did delay.
Yet God at last will from his Wrath depart,
Plead for his People, and their Cause assert.
His tender Nature will at last relent,
And if his People do, he'll soon repent.
Commiseration will possess his Breast,
When he shall see his Israel sore opprest.
When he shall find the Plagues that he employ'd,
Has almost Jacob's guilty Race destroy'd.
He'll thus the stupid Criminals upbraid,
Where are the Gods to whom you bow'd and pray'd?
Now for Protection to your Idols flee,
The Gods you chose, when you rejected me.
You did your Adoration to them pay;
Your Sacrifices at their Altars slay,
And rich Oblations there profusely lay.
To these Abominations, Israel, cry,
In thy distress their Power and Goodness try.
With loud repeated Pray'rs thy Gods invoke,
To bring thee Aid and break thy heavy Yoke.
Now by your sad experience learn and see,
That I the Lord, ev'n I alone am he,
That can subdue your Foes and set your Captives free.
I at my Pleasure Kill and make alive,
I wound and heal, I health and sickness give.
Where is the Arm that can my Pow'r withstand,
And tear a Pris'ner from my griping Hand?
I lift my hand, most solemnly I swear,
And, as I live for ever, I declare
That when I once begin to take the Field,
To whet my glitt'ring Sword, and raise my Shield,
When I my deadly Instruments prepare,
And arm my self to undertake the War;
My Fury shall my Enemys devour,
And on their Land I'll Storms of Vengeance pour.
I'll give my hungry Sword their Flesh for Food,
And make my thirsty Arrows drunk with Blood.
Plead for his People, and their Cause assert.
His tender Nature will at last relent,
And if his People do, he'll soon repent.
Commiseration will possess his Breast,
When he shall see his Israel sore opprest.
When he shall find the Plagues that he employ'd,
Has almost Jacob's guilty Race destroy'd.
248
Where are the Gods to whom you bow'd and pray'd?
Now for Protection to your Idols flee,
The Gods you chose, when you rejected me.
You did your Adoration to them pay;
Your Sacrifices at their Altars slay,
And rich Oblations there profusely lay.
To these Abominations, Israel, cry,
In thy distress their Power and Goodness try.
With loud repeated Pray'rs thy Gods invoke,
To bring thee Aid and break thy heavy Yoke.
Now by your sad experience learn and see,
That I the Lord, ev'n I alone am he,
That can subdue your Foes and set your Captives free.
I at my Pleasure Kill and make alive,
I wound and heal, I health and sickness give.
Where is the Arm that can my Pow'r withstand,
And tear a Pris'ner from my griping Hand?
I lift my hand, most solemnly I swear,
And, as I live for ever, I declare
That when I once begin to take the Field,
To whet my glitt'ring Sword, and raise my Shield,
When I my deadly Instruments prepare,
And arm my self to undertake the War;
My Fury shall my Enemys devour,
And on their Land I'll Storms of Vengeance pour.
I'll give my hungry Sword their Flesh for Food,
And make my thirsty Arrows drunk with Blood.
249
Their Voices let the Gentile World employ,
And joyn with Jacob's Sons in Songs of Joy:
For on their Foes God will avenge the blood
Of those who stedfast in his Service stood.
To Israel he his Mercy will extend,
And Heav'nly Light and Truth amidst their Dwellings send.
And joyn with Jacob's Sons in Songs of Joy:
For on their Foes God will avenge the blood
Of those who stedfast in his Service stood.
To Israel he his Mercy will extend,
And Heav'nly Light and Truth amidst their Dwellings send.
| A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |