28

SONG XXXIV. Rash Fudging condemned ; or, Job's Warning to bis

cenforious Friends. Job xix. 28, 29. Ver. O Friends! your groundless rage suppress,

The wrath of man is proud,
And worketh not the righteousness,

But brings the wrath of God.
Rash judging him in whom is found

The sacred matter's root,
Your darts will on yourselves rebound,

To’venge the wrong pursuit. 29 Of justice' sword stand you afraid,

When by th’Almighty drawn ;
His vengeance will your heads invade,

Not on your treach’ry fawn.
In fierce uncharitable zeal

You're furiously devout ;
But cover'd fraud God will reveal,

And to the flames allot.
Know that the day approaches fast,

In which the Judge fupreme,
Will all your bloody censures cast,

Your bitter words condemn.
Repent, then, left your violence

Bring present judgments home ;
Else will your proud impenitence
Foretel

your

future doom.

SONG XXXV. Tbe Prosperity of the wicked foort, and tbeir Ruin

sure. Job xx. 5,-9. 11, -14. 5 THE

'HE wicked's triumph is but short,

And quickly melts away ; His empty joy, and idle sport,

Does but a moment stay.
6 Though to the heav'n his head he raise,

His grandeur to the sky;
Yet, loft, for ay, he and his praise,

Cloath'd in the dust Thall ly.

Ver. He, miserable and forlorn,
7

Fades with a swift decay ;
Calt, like his own vile dung, with scorn,

And with contempt, away.
These who his splendor did admire,

And saw his pomp before,
And, where is now his place ! enquire,

Shall never see it more.
8 His short-liv'd fame and great esteem,

That gulld him all his days,
Shall vanish like a wanton dream,

That in the fancy plays.
Yea, he shall by a sudden bane

Be chas'd away with fright,
In manner like a fantom vain,

Or vision of the night.
9 His blazing lamp shall disappear,

So shall he perilh clean;
And in the place of his career

Shall never more be seen.
II As he was closely fix'd to fin,

By love too, too fincere ;
So fin, alas ! shall unto him

As faithfully adhere.
12 For guilty marks, and enfigns bad,

Of his unbridled lust, 13 Continue his companions fad,

And fellows in the dust.
*14 These morsels sweet shall bitter grow,

Consume his vital breath,
And follow him, with dool and wo,

To th’other side of death.

SONG XXXVI.
The Wicked bardened in tbeir Impiety by their Prof-

perity. Job xxi. 7,—15.
9 OFT

FT do we see the wicked safe,

And unmolested dwell;
Oft do they fow in pleafure soft,

And in their wealth excel.

and pride

Ver. In merriment and carnal ease

They spend each happy day;
Healthful in riot, and in age

Appear without decay.
The regal throne of pomp

In triumph they alcend;
Repeat their conquests, and abroad

Their growing pow'r extend. 8 Vig'rous, though far advanc'd in years,

Before their eyes they fee
What elevates their pride, a fair

And num'rous progeny.
9 Their houses safe from fears and foes,

In peace they live secure;
Nor God's vindictive heavy blows

Do ever they endure. 10 Their prosp'rous cattle, thick and throng,

Ingender on the hill;
And,

with their num'rous wanton young,

Their flocks the valley fill.
II Their merry little ones, in trains,

Do from their house advance ;
Sport in the streets, and o'er the plains

And verdant meadows dance.
12 They take the harp, and in the round,

Upon the timbrel play ;
And, at the organ's chcarful found,

Rejvice and pass the day. 13 Pamper'd in ease, and mirth, and wealth,

They spend their golden hours;
Consume their tinre, abuse their health,

And waste their vital pow'rs.
By years, and not by sickness, they

At last their shoulders bend;
And, ripe in years, anon decay,

And to the grave descend.
14 Hence, puff d up with prodigious pride,

Religion they condemn :
God's threats and precepts they deride,
And saints, as fools, contemn.

† Hh

Ver. They bid th’ Almighty God depart,

And arrogantly say,
We don't defire or have at heart,

The knowledge of thy way.
15 What's the Almighty? Where's our fee?

Should we to serve him deign ?
Some pray and praise, but don't we fee

They spend their breath in vain?
Thus wicked men, whom Heav'n does load

With earthly happiness,
Their native spite against their God
Profanely does express.

SONG XXXVII.
God's Way of Providence towards Men attended witb

great Variety. Jub. xxi. 17,—26.
17 SOMETIMES destruction, impious men

Evin in this worid invades;
Though oft their lamp of life's burnt out,

Before their glory fades.
God's fatal judginents for their crimes,

Oft foon their life confume ;
Amidst their pump, there's but a step

Betwixt them and their doom.
18 Ost with his driving wrath he's pleas'd

From off the earth to chase,
As chaff before the stormy wind,

This irreligious race.
19 Their fin and guilt the mighty God

Does treasure up with care ;
And for their children's heritage,

With ftores of wrath prepare.
Their progeny that tread their steps,

Shall suffer for their crimes;
And they themselves oft live to see

These very dismal times.
10 Their cursed lips shall deeply drink,

Of God's embitter'd bowl;
Their haughty eyes shall downward sink,

And in destruction roll,

Ver. Ah, then! what comfort to them shall
12

Their race furviving raise,
When in the middle, after all,

Grim death cuts off their days!
On the reverse, sometimes the just

May prosper, though 'tis plain
Their lot and ordinary fate

Is trouble, want, and pain.
22 Yet who will thence against the ways

Of God most high object?
To guide, govern, and rule the world,

Who shall his hands direct ?
Does not the great omniscient God

All things distinctly know?
For he's the Judge of saints above,

The Judge of kings below.
Who then to teach him wisdom will

Adventure or pretend ?
And clearly show him how, with skill,

His government to mend ?
23 One dies in his full strength and health,

No change he thought upon; 24. When full of marrow, mirth, and wealth,

Yet in a moment gone.
25 Another, who in tort'ring pains,

And bitter anguish lies;
Long griev'd and gall’d with heavy chains,

In ling'ring sickness dies.
26 Both these at last the friendly grave

Will bring to equal rest;
And on their flesh, within the cave,

The worms alike shall feast.
Promiscuous tribulations thus

All human kind invade;
And death, without distinction, does

Befal both good and bad.
No dispensation of this fort

Does ever take its rise,
From one man's virtuous effort,
Or from another's vice.