Meditations on the History in Exodus, Meditations
Some Meditations on the Hiſtory recorded in the firſt fourteen Chapters of Exodus, in Meeter.
The Sons of Jacob dwelt in Egypt, whereCh. 1. v. 7. 9.
Their great Encreaſe made the Egyptians fear.
Two cauſes of it are aſſign'd; the one,
They'l joyn with foes, the other, they'l be gone.10.
Stay now, let's think: And was there Cauſe indeed
To have ſuch thoughts of honeſt Jacobs ſeed?
Would they betray the Land where they were bred,Gen. 12. 10 42, 1.
Where their fore Fathers more then once were fed
In their diſtreſs? No, no, this could not be,
They had more holy ingenuity.
Or would they leave their Native Country? leave
A fruitful Goſhen; and themſelves bereave
Of houſe and home, and knew not where to go?
No, never think it; They'd more wit then ſo.
But yet there's ſomewhat in't; perhaps 't may be
Pharo'h was conſcious to himſelf that he,
Had wrong'd them in there liberties; and craves
To keep them ſtill, as profitable Slaves;
Had ſtinted their Religion; (for that Nation
Mayn't ſacrifice th' Egyptians 'bomination.)Ch. 8. 20
Perhaps their thoughts his thoughts thus repreſent:
Why ſhall wee Pharo'bs happineſs reſent?
Why ſhall we fight? what matters it, ſince we
Muſt ſtill be Aſſes, who the loaders be?
What? is our publique worſhip nothing worth?
Gods Heav'nly Ordinances? Come; let's forth
Into the wilderneſs; 'tis better there
With God, then with theſe black Egyptians here
Joſeph's forgot, and we requited thus:Ch. 1. 8. Ge. 47. 20. occulta revelans Gen. 41. 45
He got him all, who now takes all from us:
Had Zaphnath paaneah this fore-known;
He'ad ne're ſo ſtrengthen'd him, to ſpoyle his own
Conſcience thus works, thus ſpeaks, what no man dares
That's no Courtflatterer; that no man ſpares.
Come let us wiſely deal with them (saith he)v. 10.
Leſt they the Landlords, and we Tenants be:
Let's tax them roundly; make them ſerve with rigor;14.
Mortar and bricks lay on, lay on, with vigor.
Their bitter lives ſhall ſweeten mine, their charge
My Treaſuries and Treaſures ſhall enlarge,11.
But 't was a policy, which God ne're blest;
The more they grew, the more they were opprest.
Yet hee'l not leave it ſo; hee'l next aſſail
A private Plot, when publique force does fail.
He calls the Midwives; bids them ſlay the Boyes,15.
Preſerve the Girls; there's ruine without Noyſe.
The Females may be ſav'd to ſerve our lust;
The Males deſtroy, for them we dare not trust:
This age let's well keep under, and their breed,
This will prevent, that none ſhall them ſucceed.
Come, this will do our buſineſs.—Ney pray ſtay;
Gods promiſe ſure will lay a rub ith' way:
Abrahams line muſt lengthen'd be; his heirsPſ. 45. 16. Gen. 17. 5. 8.
Muſt live to ſee the Land of Canaan theirs.
The Midwives fearing God more then the King)
Wave th'hangmans ſtrangling office, and do bringv. 21.
A flye excuſe; Thereby his craft befool:
Oh! 'tis not every one will make a Tool.
Dirty employment's only fit for thoſe
That Dirty fellows are; Carrion for Crows.
God made them Houſes—ſuch will better be,21.
Then rais'd by reward's of iniquity.
But, ſince theſe will uot do't; he next will try,
Who'le give a cruel pledge of loyalty?
He charges all his people, nor did doubt,23.
But Blood-Hounds might be found among the rout:
As after Saul found none amongſt his friends,1 Sam. 22. 17, 18, 19.
His Loyal Iſraelites, to work his ends,
Yet had an Edomite (fit for the job)
That ſlew Gods Priests, and overthrew their NOB.
And now is Moſes born; hid for a while;Ch. 2. 2. v. 3. 5.
Expoſ'd; made Pharoh's Grandſon by a wile.
God counter-plots the plotter; makes him keep
(Wolfe as he was) a Shepherd for his Sheep.10.
Let none as born in a bad time, repine,
Whom God may for ſome ſpecial work deſign;
It matters not what Age, or in what Nation;
So that we ſerve him in our Generation.Act. 13. 36 11.
Moſes is grown a Man; goes forth to ſee
His poor oppreſſed Brethrens miſerie.
Does an Heroick act of Juſtice; ſmites12. 13. 14. 15.
A ſierce Egyptian; Chides two Iſraelites
That were a wrangling, but had ſuch reply,
As made him firſt to fear, and then to fly.
Thus oft, who others, would make friends gets foes;
And he, that will part fighters, meets with blows.
He dwelt with Revel; Zipporah he marries;21. 22. 23. 24.
Has Gerſhom by her, and long there he tarries,
Till he was quite forgot, and Pharoh dead,
Till God his covenant remembered.
Let none think, God forgets us, or neglects;
He lookes on Iſrael, and them reſpects.25.
Let none think Gods time long, for he beſt knows,
When we are fit for mercies, they for woes.
Now is he call'd from keeping Jethroes ſheep,Ch. 3. 1.
To feed Gods flock, and them to guide, and keep.
As after, ſome Apostles from their trade,
Eiſhers of Fiſh, Fiſhers of Men were made.Mat. 4 19
A noble change; but time rouſly, he ſhrinks;v. 11.
Alas! it is too high for him, he thinks.
Though in the Burning-Buſh God had declar'd
The burthen'd Iſrael ſhould at laſt be ſpar'd.Ch. 3. 8.
Yet could he not diſcern how it ſhould be
Effected by ſo mean a Man as he.
Can I before the Mighty Pharo'h ſtand?11. 12. 13. 8.
VVhy not? (ſays God) Ile lead thee by the hand.
And will the Iſraelites believe poor mee?
Yea that they ſhall (ſayes God) by what they 'I ſee.
Jehovah ſhews him wonders, cures his fears;Ch. 4. 2.
Strengthens his faith, that he might ſtrengthen theirs
See here, and imitate a humble ſoul:
See here a faith, that does a fear controul.
Yet fear Repullulates, hee'd fain be free:
I am not fit: Send whom thou wilt for me.13.
Bold cowardiſe, that dares Gods precept break;
Yet feares before a mortal Man to ſpeak:
Blind Senſuality, that counteth even
A Glittering Gloworm to the light of Heaven.
He pleads a ſloath of ſpeech, would not be ſent,10.
Becauſe (forſooth) he was not Eloquent:
Whereas Court-Preechors muſt be Glib and free,
Smooth-tongu'd, as I am not (O ſend not mee)
Neither before, not ſince I ſpake with thee.10.
God condeſcends to weakneſs, and allow'th
His brother Aaron to become his mouth.14.
And now are anſwer'd all his little pleas
And now he muſt away without delaies.
Delaies are dangerous, but yet take heed,
We mind our hast no more then our good ſpeed:
He takes his leave; proceeding with his wife,10.
And Son uncircumciſ'd; whereby his life
Is brought in danger, 'twas becauſe that he24.
To Iſrael a comforter would be
By Covenant, and yet neglects the Seal:
Wilt thou (ſays God) my holy will reveal?
Declare my name to others, that they fear it,
And thou thy ſelf forget me? I'le not bear it.
Reformers muſt Reformed be: Who Preaches,
Muſt firſt believe and practice what he teaches.
Moſes thus warn'd, his Son doth circumciſe:25.
Draws blood from Gerſhom, tears from Zipporahs eyes.
Oh Bloody husband (cryes ſhe) Man of blood:26.
Carnal relations often hinder good.
But it is better friends then God t' offend;
Make friends our enemies, keep God our friend.
Now on he goes; his brother Aaron meets him.27.
(Sent forth by God) and brotherly he greets him;
And hand in hand they into Egypt go,29.
Congregate Iſrael, and to them ſhow
Gods wondrous works, and gracious words; which ſaid,30. 31.
Iſrael believes, worſhips, and bows the head.
Approaching mercies, when they do appear,
Should be receiv'd with reverence, and fear.
To Pharo'h fruitful Egypts mighty King,Ch. 5. 1.
Next they addreſs, and do this meſſage bring;
The God of Jacob ſaith, Let Iſrael go,
And worſhip me; the Lord will have it ſo.
The Lord? (ſayes Pharo'h) ſtay; I do not know him;2.
Nor any Suit, or Service that I owe him;
Who is the Lord? The Hebrews God (ſay they)3.
Hath us commanded; Let us go wee pray.
A three-days Journey in the deſart, there
To Sacriſice, for otherwiſe we fear
Hee'l angry be; if we neglect his word,
Hee'l fall on us with Psstilence and Sword.
Here's Gods command, and Iſraels request,
Whereby in humble manner he is preſt:
Iſrael's in danger, if they do not do it;
If Pharo'h lets them, then let him look to it.
If they a Sword, and Peſtilence do fear,
Then what may He, that is their hinderer.
But hee's reſolv'd. Go; get you gon (ſays he)
Moſes and Aaron; to your burthens; yee4.
Doe hinder buſineſs; you that are but two
Doe ſtay the work that many hands might doe.5.
Then doth he call the Taskers; makes this Law;
Require the Tale of Bricks, allow no Straw.7. 8. 8.
For they are Idle; hence ariſe their cries,
Let us go worſhip God, go ſacrifice.
Wretched uncharitableneſs is thine,
That thinkeſt all Religion but deſigne.
Not to pleaſe God, onelyonly our ſelves to pleaſe:
Not inward comfort, but for outward eaſe.
Lay on more work, and keep them at it hard:9.
Their vain religious canting ne're regard.
'Tis ſaid; 'tis done; they find it to their grief.10. 14. 15.
And first they fly to Pharo'h for relief:
Oh! Why are we thus hardly dealt withall?
How can we work without materiall?16.
Thy people are in fault, and wee are beaten:
Pharo'h (inſtead of helping them does threaten,17.
Sends them away with ſcorn: Go Idlers, go,
(Youl'd ſerve the Lord? Serve Mee:) I'le have it ſo.
Hear how the Harpy harps upon that word;
You'r Idle; you would go and ſerve the Lord?
A Pharoh's better farther off then nigh one;
Sheep little get, by comming near the Lyon:
This will not do; Moſes and Aaron next20.
They met, but being grieviouſly perplext,
They charge them as the cauſe of all their wo;21.
Had it not been for you, 't had not been ſo.
You made's believe and put trust in the Lord,
And this hath put in Pharo'hs hand a ſword.
Never was ſo ſevere th' Egyptian rod,23.
Till you perſwaded us to worſhip God.
Moſes to God complains, Why was I ſent22.
To Iſrael, their ſorrows to augment?
Jehovah anſwers; I do hear their cryes;Ch. 6. 5.
See their distreſſes; I do Sympathiſe:
Do feel their loads. Moſes again is ſent
With a new Covenant, new encouragement.6. 7. 9.
But Iſrael, that under griefs doth languiſh,
Cannot hear God nor Moſes for their anguiſh.
O men of little faith that cannot ſee
For tears, th' Almighties Al-ſufficiency!
O! men of feeble ſpirits, that for one
Rough paſſage, doubt of their redemption!
O little love you ſhew, that will depart
From your Religion, for a little ſmart!
Moſes again is ſent unto the King:11.
But now (alas) his faith is wavering;
For, if (ſaith he) Iſrael will not hear12.
My meſſage, Pharo'h will much leſs I fear.)
But God doth charge him and his brother both,13.
And therefore in they go (though very loath.)
Thus Stars of greatest magnitude (wee ſee)
With fogs and clouds ſometimes obſcured bee.
Thus strongest pillars of the Church, with weight
Will bow a little, till God ſet them right.
When into Pharohs preſence they were come.
He frowning ſayes, what will theſe troubleſome
And ill bred fellows have? they know our will:
They have our anſwer: Will you ne're be ſtill?
Where's your commiſſion? mak't appear that you
Are ſent of God, and that your God is true.
Shew us ſome tricks our High Priests can doe this
By power from our Gods Iſis, Oſiris,
Our Garden gods, Leekes, Onions; (O the dotageNaſcutur in hortis numina. Ch. 7. 10.
That ſhreds divinity to make their Pottage:)
Then Aaron caſt upon the ground his rod;
'Tis chang'd into a Serpent by his God.
The Jugling-wizzards Pharo'h calls, and they11.
Perform the like: But ſoon are made a prey,
To Aarons Serpent, all their Magick fry.12.
Thus ſolid Reaſon ſwallows ſophiſtry.
Pharo'h is hardned: Tuſh! (ſaith he) for this13.
I care not, while it doth not bite, but hiſs.
Thus ſome men Comets to a jeſt do turn,
Becauſe they onelyonly blaze, and doe not burn;
Although (perhaps) ſometimes they do foreſhew
Burning of Cities, and of Navies too.
They ſhall not go; no? Sure it were as good,
You did permit them: Next ſign ſhall be Blood;17. 18. 19. 21.
Blood in the rivers, choaking all the fiſhes;
Blood in your ponds, ſtone pots, and wooden diſhes;
Blood that ſhall putrifie the air, and ſtink;
Blood in the waters, you ſhall lothe to drink.
'Tis done: Hell vicars ape this too: His will22.
Is obſtinate; Pharo'h is Pharo'h still.
This is the first plague, and indeed 'tis great,
(Though greater follow) 'tis about their meat:
Though ſome are of opinion, and will tell ye
Fiſh is no meat, for you may fill your belly
Therewith, and yet keep fasting daies. But I
(Saving their reverence) think it drollery.
Now enter Frogs filling their region,Ch. 8. 2.
Water, and Land (a frog's Amphibion)
Some ſwim in broths, ſome baked in their bread.3.
Some are cold crawlers in their naked bed.
Some mufick croak to Pharo'h, and perchance,4.
Some in his Preſence-Chamber skip and dance.
'Tis true his Prieſts had try'd what they could do,
And (through permiſſion) frogs they brought up too:
But can they drive them down? Now let them prove it
They can bring miſchief but they can't remove it.
Thus when, with Moſes, they dare enter liſts,
Th' appear Enchanters but no Exorcists.
Moſes muſt be entreated now to pray,
This loathſome judgment may be ta'ne away.
Wretches may need, and beg the prayers of thoſe
Sometimes, whom otherwhile they moſt oppoſe.
And in deſign would their religion uſe,
Whoſe Perſons and Religion they abuſe.
Now that, in this, his turn might ſerved be,
He makes a promiſe; Iſrael ſhall go free:9. 8.
Tis the word of a King, ſet thoughts at reſt,
It ſhall be done: There's honour in this breast.
Goodneſs and greatneſs, did they alwaies meet,
Then peace and righteouſneſs would alwaies greet;
But 'tis the Scripture ſaith; men that are highPſ. 62. 9.
In their degree (in th Abstarct) are a lie.
Moſes doth try his truth, prayes off the frogs:12. 13. 15.
They die on Land and onelyonly live in bogs.
Th' Egyptian reſpited, the Gypſie playd;
Retracts his word, denyes what he had ſaid.
A complicated ſin; he breaks his word,
Not onelyonly with the men, but with the Lord.
The matter of his Cov'nant was ſublime,
Encreaſes guilt, and aggravates the crime.
God is offended greatly, and now muſt
The wonder-working Rod enliven duſt.16.
Beggars and Cheats they were before, and now
Louſy Egyptians all, from Throne to Plow.17. 18.
Then try the Artiſts (Chaplains of the Houſe
And all there Art can't feign a little Louſe.
Jannes and Jambres time is out, and all2 Tim. 3. 8.
Their ſtore is ſpent, Jannes and Jambres fall;
Thoſe two Arch-flamins of his kingdom, thoſe
That Pharo'h hardu'd, Moſes did oppoſe;
Who now themſelves confeſs it is Gods hand,19. Iſa. 26. 11. Lu. 23. 47 Act. 16 17
That thus afflicted had th' Egyptian land.
Though ſinners long perſiſt, and will not ſee.
Heaven will at laſt, by Hell, acknowledg'd bee.
But Pharo'hs lofty ſpirit will not hear'm;19. 24. princeps muſcarum 22.
More judgments muſt come on, and he muſt bear'm.
Then grievous ſwarmes of flies poſſeſs the air
As if Belzebub had dominion there.
Goſhen is free.—Herein his power he ſhows
To ſave his people when he plagues his foes.
Men make distinctions with miſcheivous heart:
God ſeals for ſafety, keeps them ſtill apart.
Moſes, O Moſes help me (Pharo'h cryes)
Go worſhip now your God, go ſacrifice;25.
Only let it be in the Land, I pray,
To going out, reaſon of state ſaies nay.
He would compound a Gallimauphery;
Part Gods command, and part state pollicy.
Methinks I hear him ſay; What does poſſeſs
Your minds to worſhip in a wilderneſs.
'Twere more auguſt here: Loe (for your contents)
Wee'l Temples lend Utinſels, Ornaments.
You may your own God keep and conſcience too
Though amongst us, like us you ſeem to do.
But 'twil not do; a little more he yeelds:26. 28.
Let it be wilderneſs, but near our fields;
For if from us you do depart too far,
We ſhall ſuſpect, you doe intend a War.
Once more (ſayes Moſes) to my God I'le cry;29.
But deal not any more deceitfully.
And reaſon good he now ſhould be ſuſpected
That former obligations had rejected.
The fly is gon. Pharo'h is ſtill the ſame31. 32.
What ſhall we ſay to him that knows no ſhame?
Come Murrein ſlay the cattel; Spare no mans,Ch. 8. 3. 4.
But let it be onelyonly Egyptians.
He that would Iſraels have at his diſpoſe
Keeps not his own, all covet and all loſe.
Pharo'h is hardned still: Come ſprinkle aſhes7. 8.
For botch and blayne; Ile whip with ſoarer laſhes;
Let the Magicians feel them; try their skill11. 12. 13. 14.
To cure themſelves. Pharo'h is hardned still.
And still ſhall plagued be; ev'n on his heart:
An inward ſearings worſe then outward ſmart.
Sad is his caſe, that's raiſed high alone16.
To ſhew Gods Justice and his Power upon.
Now warn them of a Storm, and let us ſee,18. 19. 20.
If all Egyptians are as bad as he:
No; Some believe and fear; follow direction,
And for their goods and ſervants get protection.
It was a Storme indeed; Fire, Thunder, Hail,23.
Extreams of heat and cold made hearts to fail;
The Fire ran on the ground; as ſad September
Taught us to know; will teach us to remember.
The fire diſperſ'd it ſelf over the land,
As if continued by a ſecret hand.
Shall we hear more of Pharoh? Yes: His cry
Is Moſes, Aaron, help me or I dye:27.
Hee's now grown penitent (at leaſt in ſhew)
Oh I have ſin'd (he ſpeaks it falſely true)
I and mine wicked are, your God is juſt:
(It is enough) pray him in whom you truſt:28.
Dreadful experiments do prove him ſtronger;
I'le let you go, and ye ſhall stay no longer.
Can any now make any doubt but he
To all his promiſes will faithful be?
A gentle mildeneſs does the man diſcover
(As Snakes in Winter till the Storms be over)
Though charity cannot but judg him right,
Yet is he falſe in the All-ſeers ſight.
Well, well, (ſays Moſes) let it be; I know
Y'are naught, and to your ruine will be ſo:29. 30. 33. 34.
The Haile is gon: What ſay you? Shall we go:
And ſerve our God? Anſwer directly: No.
My promiſes were made in fear, I'me told
By all my Caſuists, ſuch do not hold.
Then look for Locusts, ſuch as have not been;Ch. 9, 4. 5. 6. 7.
Such multitudes, the earth ſhall not be ſeen.
This ſaid, the Prophets leave him: But the threat
So ſrights the Egyptians, that they him intreat
To lay to heart, Egypt is plagued ſo,
OnelyOnly for Iſraels ſake; O let them go!
Tis ſtrange that Interceſſors for them be
Inſtruments of his rage, their miſery.
Well call them then (ſaies Pharoh) ask them who?8.
What is the Number of them that would goe?
What Number? (is replyed) why even all;9.
Men, Women, Children, Cattel, great and ſmall.
Nay; that ſhall never be; I'le breed your Sons;10.
They are my Wards: Go; leave your little ones.
Unreaſonable men; I ſee it well,
If I concede an inch, you'l crave an ell.
You onelyonly ask'd for men alone; 'twas given;
Now you'l have all: Look to't: So for th they'r driven11.
The promiſe (ſure) had choak'd the man, without
Distinction and a lie, had help'd him out.
Hee'l have them in a rope; 'T was his intent
To draw them back in time convenient.
He never me'nt to let them quite go free,
But had an eye unto posterity.
Now the ſtrange locust come; Obey command;14. 15.
Devouer every green upon the land.
God can make uſe of Frogs, Lice, Locusts, Elyes,
Thus to ſubdue his proudeſt Enemies.
Inſects commanded by the Lord of hoſts
Are Concquering-Armies over him that boaſts.
Gods meſſengers are haſtned in; 'tis true,16.
O I have Sin'd againſt your God, and you.
Forgive I pray this once, pray God above,17.
That now he would this onelyonly death remove.
Here's a confeſſion larger then before,
And pardon asked: Sure now hee'l ſin no more.
You'd think ſo; but no good fruit can he bring;
Judicial hardneſs is a dreadful thing.
The Locuſts are blown off; but oh! alas!19. 20.
The King's no Changeling, he is where he was.
O let not Mankind ſuffer by him; for
Nature does Monſters (ſuch as he) abhor:
Nor Reaſon, nor Philanthropy allows,
To think all men, like him, perſidious.
Palpable three days dark neſs next muſt tell21.
Their final ruine, prodromous of Hell.
But Goſhen all this long and dreadful night,23.
Had, as a pledg of Heavenly glories, light:
Pharo'h may now be hear… (though not be ſeen)24.
Calling for Moſes, and as if't had been
A Credible he tells him, really
He meant to let them go; (a real lie)
Only your Cattel leave behind (ſays he)
…eave your Estates, your Perſons ſhall go free.
Let's hunt the Plot, was it his Avarice
To ſell them their Religion at a price?
Or was't good Husbandry ſave what he could,
Seeing he could not have all that he would?
Or, was it Policy to draw them back,
When Wilderneſs makes them begin to lack?
For when this heat is o're (perhaps he thought)
They will repent what they've ſo dearly bought.
What e're it were; his Grant doth not ſuffice,
They muſt have where withal to ſacrifice.25.
…ivil as well as Sacred Liberty,
…n all reſpects, their God will have them free.
…ea? ſay ye ſo? I thought (quoth Egypts King)
That Heaven-born ſouls minded no earthly things;
And that you did believe, God would ſupply
All things, both for your life and piety.
But ſince you'l have it ſo; to let you ſee
My love, I'le not give leave, but baniſh ye:
See, that you ſee my face no more, Petitions28.
I'le have no more, nor tedious repetitions
Of that ſame, Let my people go: be gone.
Moſes went out in Anger; which in oneChap. 11. 8.
So meek was much; but yet behind him leaves
A dreadful word; Pharoah, my God bereaves5.
Thee of thy First-born; all thy Sons ſhall dye,
For my Sons ſake; and a ſad mid-night-cryCh. 4. 24. 6. 8.
Shall fill the Land, and (stout as is thy heart)
Thou and thine ſhall entreat us to depart.
Brave Souls make no unworthy compoſitions,
Nor will admit of ſordid Propoſitions;
Moſes hath conquer'd and muſt triumph now,8.
And proud Egyptians muſt before him bow.
He now is great whom lately they did ſlight,3.
Both in the Courtiers and the Country's ſight.
Next he prepares his People to be gone,
Appoints the Door-mark, bids them every oneCh. 12. 13. Ch. 11. 2.
Of the Egyptians Gold and Jewels horrow;
Who lend with joy, what they muſt loſe with ſorrow.
Justice gives them to Jacob for a ſpoil,Ch. 12. 36. Ezek. 39. 10.
Who had enrich'd themſelves by Jacob's toil;
Who in their eyes at laſt does favour find,
Who had ſo long to them been ſo unkind.
The blow is given whether at heart or head,24. 30.
But ſo it is in every houſe one dead.
Pharoah awakes, aroſe, cryes out diſmaid,
Go Worſhip (not as I) but as ye ſaid.31. 32.
Take all your flocks, do all your God requires;
And laſt of all their Bleſſing he deſires:
As Eſau did, Pharaoh doth, bleſſing crave,
Which neither he, nor he, deſerv'd to have:
Had he done like the Mede-Darius, true.Ezr. 6. 10.
He might have then expected it as due.
But this doth ſhew, that wicked men diſtreſt,
Do value by God's people to be bleſt.
After ſeven precepts, let my people go,
After three promiſes, it ſhall be ſo.
Urg'd by the Egyptians, Iſrael haſts away;33. 34. 38.
Lap up their Dough unleav'ned as it lay.
A mixed multitude follow anon;
Proſperity will have its hangers on.
And now their Dough unleavned Iſrael bakes;39.
Liberty ſweetens mean unleav'ned Cakes.
And now they've time to count the time they ſpent40.
In a ſtrange Land, and what they underwent.
Four hundred thirty years juſt was their ſtay,
God brought them out the ſelf ſame promis'd day.41. 17.
He led them forth not by the neareſt cut,
Through the Philistins (great oppoſers) but
From Succoth march they on by God's direction,Ch 14. 2.
Camp by the Sea-ſide, under God's Protection;
Though Pharoah fancies them in great diſtreſs,3.
ſhut up, entangled in the Wilderneſs;
And with ſix hundred Chariots doth purſue,7. 9. 10. 11. 12.
And choſen Horſemen, quickly comes in view:
Iſrael fears, chides Moſes, wiſh for Graves
In Egypt, wiſh they'd liv'd and di'd there ſlaves.
The laſt four Lines two Wonders make appear;
That Pharoah ſhould have hope, and Iſrael fear;
Conſidering all the Wonders that had been;
What th'one had felt, and what th'other had ſeen,
Theſe Wonders are no Wonders (you will find)
Compar'd to Wonders, that are yet behind.
But Moſes bids them only ſtand, and ſee,13.
What ſhould their ſafety, Egypts ruin be.
The Angel that before them did appear,19.
Removes behind, the Pillar guards the rear:
On that ſide darkneſs, and on this ſide light,20.
To Iſrael day, to the Egyptians night.
The Sea divides on each hand; mounts on high,21.
Like VVater-walls, the ſandy floor is dry:22.
There march the Iſraelites within the hollow,
And boldly do the proud Egyptians follow;23.
On whom the Lord an angry look does caſt;
Troubles the Hoſt, and ſtayes their Overhast;25.
Till Iſrael is landed on the ſhore;
The Sea returns, and Egypt is no more.30.
I'ved done the ſtory; now ſit down and muſe,
I've ſet before you good and evil; chuſe.
Now let the Sinner (if he durſt) be bold,
And Obstinate, who hears this ſtory told,
Now let the feeble, fearful, trembling ſaint
From this day forward never more be faint.
May this a Warning and an Arming be
To Men Concern'd: O Lord I heg of thee,
Cui Gloria in Excelſis & hominibus Pax.
FINIS.
End of the text · Charles Morton, Meditations on the History in Exodus (1680)