Poem on the creation of the world, or, A meditation on the wonderful operation of the divine hand
A
POEM
ON THE
Creation of the World;
OR
Adam's Fall.
By PATRICK TAIT.
O LORD, how manifold are thy Works! in Wiſdom haſt thou made them all. Psal. civ. 24.
Confuſion heard his Voice, and wild Uproar
Stood rul'd, ſtood vaſt Infinitude confin'd.
EDINBURGH:
Printed for and ſold by the Author at Fiſher-row.
M. DCC. LI.
PREFACE to the Reader.
THE following Poem has for its Subject the great and glorious Works of God from the Beginning of the World: For tho' before all Time, Matter, Form or Place, God himſelf was all in all, there being nothing elſe beſide, nor he ſtanding in need of any thing, but enjoying himſelf in his own infinite Perfections; yet of his own good Pleaſure, and for the Manifeſtation of his Glory and Goodneſs, from all Eternity he had reſolved upon the Creation of the Heavens and Earth, and all Creatures therein contained; and therefore, when it was his good Pleasure ſo to do, he by one Act of his infinite Power created out of nothing the whole Maſs of Matter in one rude and undigeſted Heap, which he preſently afterwards brought into that ſtupendous regular Form and Order in which we ſee them; ſo that within the Space of ſix Days the Heavens and Earth, and all the Hoſts thereof, were completed, all the Creatures therein made, very good in their Kind: And in particular he made our firſt Parents Adam and Eve after his own Image, in Knowledge, Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, with Dominion over the other earthly Creatures, and gave them a Law written in their Hearts, with Power to fulfil the ſame, only they were not made impeccable, but liable to Change. Beſides this Law written in their Hearts he gave them one eaſy poſitive Law, forbidding them to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, on the Pain of Death natural, ſpiritual and eternal, which Law they having ſoon broken, did thereby forfeit the divine Favour, incurred the Penalty, and involved themſelves and their Poſterity in endleſs Miſery and Woe, impoſſible to be avoided, had it not pleaſed God of his mere free Grace to provide a Remedy by the Merits and Mediation of his ever bleſſed Son the Lord Jeſuſ Chriſt.
Theſe are the high and important Matters upon which this Book contains ſome few, faint and imperfect Thoughts: And who is ſufficient for theſe Things? For, to uſe the Words of a certain Author, The glorious Power, the unſearchable Wiſdom, the wonderful Order ſhining in the whole Procedure of the whole ſix Days Work, who dare undertake to declare? Only what we cannot ſufficiently comprehend, let us praiſe and admire. And upon mature Conſideration, we will find juſt Cauſe for Praiſe and Admiration, with regard both to the Works of Creation and Redemption.
As to the Performance itſelf, if it has any thing of the Spirit or Beauties of Poetry, it is entirely the Fruit of a natural Genius; for the Author ingenuouſly acknowledges, that he had not the Opportunity of the more polite and refined Education, which might have greatly brightened the Genius of his Muſe: For which frank Acknowledgement he hopes the nicer or more learned Readers will be the more readily induced to excuſe or diſpenſe with any thing therein that doth not keep Pace with the ſtrict Rules of the Schools; and if the Thoughts be in the main just and true, that Allowances will be granted in other Caſes.
A
POEM
ON THE
Creation of the World;
THE Heavens, the Earth, the Sea, and all therein,
Were all created, and did once begin
To have a Being: So that none can boaſt
Of being eternal but the Lord of Hoſts,
Who ever was from all Eternity;
The which to us is ſuch a Myſtery,
Tho' finite Minds ſhould try this Depth to ſound,
By them its Bottom never would be found:
This Ocean huge no Creature can explore,
That knows no Brim, no Bottom, nor a Shore.
However far beyond our Reach and View,
We from the Scriptures are aſſur'd 'tis true,
That he did ſpend Eternity alone,
When other Beings but himſelf were none.
Spending alone thus an Eternity,
It fully proves his Self-ſufficiency,
And that before he made this earthly Frame,
As after that, was ſtill unchang'd the ſame.
Still in himſelf of Happiness poſſeſt,
That could ne'er be diminiſh'd or increaſt.
To God's eſſential Glory, tho' 'tis true.
From all his Works there nothing does accrue;
Yet ſearch the Scriptures, and enquire the Cauſe,
God made the World, and all created was;
The Reaſon for it there we ſee aſſign'd,
Is God, his Glory in it all deſign'd;
His ſovereign Will and Pleaſure being the Thing
Whence all he does doth take its Riſe and Spring.
And tho' his Glory is not thus increaſt,
It is declar'd, and is made manifeſt.
That he is glorious; all his Creatures ſhew it,
Altho' they do add no Addition to it.
The Divine Goodneſs, like a Fountain ſeal'd
Had been, if not thus open'd and reveal'd,
God's Power and Wiſdom which before were hid
Them in Creation manifeſt he did:
Angels and Adam were made ſo divine.
That Holineſs did here with Luſtre ſhine;
That Man of his Creator might ſtand Awe,
For him then Juſtice did enact a Law,
With Promiſe, Precept, and a Penalty;
T' obey was Life, but if not, he muſt dy.
While Truth engaged was he ſhould be ſerv'd,
Which ever Way it was his Works deſerv'd.
Into Creation-Work we may ſee there
Theſe Attributes of Glory each had Share:
'Tis true that Mercy ſeem'd obscure, and here
Did Mercy follow only in the Rear,
Till Adam fell it did not much appear.
Redemption-Work doth in a Strain more high
Each Attribute extol and glorify;
Yet this much of Creation we may ſay.
That it did for Redemption-Work make way;
Man muſt be made, fall, and be guilty deem'd.
Before he need or yet could be redeem'd:
So I deſign a few Lines on that Head,
That's firſt recorded in the Chriſtian Creed;
There's in this Work of God the World's Creation,
Great Room for Words, yet more for Admiration;
God's Power and Wiſdom here ſo manifold,
Its Half by none can never well be told,
Only by Faith 'tis here we may behold
Him ſtepping forth, without either a Stone,
Or any thing to build with, or upon:
This Univerſe ſo huge he up did rear.
And out of nothing made it all appear;
Creating Power did make ſuch Operation,
In going thro' this great Work of Creation,
Yet keeped Order, Beauty and Gradation,
And did begin and end, as Scripture ſays.
It all within the Compaſs of ſix Days.
'Tis proper then we ſhould in this Eſſay,
Begin with what was done on the firſt Day,
And ſtill advance, as Scripture Light doth ſhew,
Of each Day's Work to take a ſhort Review.
But Oh! the Works on thir ſix Days were wrought,
Them to deſcry ſurpaſſeth human Thought!
Who, who can know the Creatures Number vaſt.
From the firſt made, to Woman who was laſt
Of all the Creatures that we read of made;
Which done, the World then was finiſhed.
When God unto the Univerſe gave Birth,
And did create the Heavens and the Earth,
He in this Work did with himſelf begin.
That lofty Place to make he dwelleth in;
Altho' he be God preſent every where,
His glorious Preſence it is only there;
It is in Heaven the third and higheſt Story,
Which Scripture calls the Place of Bliſs and Glory.
But this Imperial Seat of Majesty,
Who here below its Glory can deſcry?
We find recorded are in ſacred Writ,
Many and various Metaphors of it.
This glorious City, as in Scripture ſaid.
His twelve Foundations, which Jehovah laid;
An equal Number alſo has of Gates,
At each of which a glorious Angel waits:
The Wall of it, ſays the Apoſtle John,
Is garniſhed with every precious Stone:
That City must be ſplendid to behold,
That is compar'd to pure and precious Gold;
Its very Streets are ſaid to be no leſs
Than Gold ſo pure, that's like tranſparent Glaſs.
Of Sun or Moon this City hath no need,
Which doth for Light the glorious Sun exceed.
'Tis doubted much if this third Heaven was
At all compris'd in the confuſed Chaos.
But ſince that its Created Glory lies.
Quite out of Sight from all below the Skies,
And none being fit its Glory to declare,
But who are bleſt with Habitation there.
Then ſtop my Muſe, thy Judgment then ſuſpend
About the Thing thou cannot comprehend.
The Angels, Heaven's Inhabitants, even they
Created were alſo on the firſt Day;
For when the Earth's Foundation it was laid,
We read in Scripture, that 'tis of them ſaid,
That at its laying they did ſo rejoice,
They ſung together with united Voice:
Theſe Creatures were made Beings so refin'd,
Yet a Degree above the human Kind;
And by the Effect of creating Power,
Angels were made entirely Spirits pure,
That have no Substance that's of ought we call
Fleſh, Blood or Bones, or Ought material.
The great Creator's Power to testify,
The Angels all were made immediately:
Alſo the Lord, their great Creator, he
Made them immortal by Divine Decree;
And he who's Sovereign of his Ways, to none
Has to account but to himſelf alone,
Was pleaſed to exalt theſe Creatures ſo,
Above all Creatures that he made below,
And dignified them ſo above the rest,
That they of Heaven were at firſt poſſeſt;
They were admitted to that high Abode,
To ſerve in Preſence of the Lord their God,
Who did them make ſo fit for that Deſign,
He them endow'd with Qualities divine,
Of a vaſt Meaſure he did them poſſeſs
Of divine Wiſdom, Power and Holineſs,
By which they were enabled to fulfil
Whatever was their great Creator's Will;
Yet God reſerv'd Immutability
As his own ſingle ſpecial Property,
Nor unto Men or Angels either, that
When he them made, did it communicate.
Thus many Angels they did ſoon rebel,
And from Allegiance to their Sovereign fell,
And out of Heaven were thruſt down to Hell,
And are ſhut up in Darkneſs and Deſpair,
Without all Hopes of any Mercy there:
The reſt confirm'd were by a divine Hand,
That in Perfection hence they'll ever ſtand;
They in that high and happy State above
Are now inſur'd, they'll never thence remove:
Such Honour great unto them there is giv'n,
Such grand Employment in the Court of Heav'n,
In executing God's Decrees, are hence
Greatly employed in Works of Providence,
And in his Errands, O how ſoon can they
Themſelves from Heaven unto Earth convey!
None can expreſs the great Rapidity
And Swiftneſs they from Place to Place do fly,
In executing of their Lord's Commands;
No Oppoſition e'er before them ſtands,
Thro' Bars of Iron and thro' Gates of Braſs,
As thro' the Air, with equal Eaſe they'll paſs,
In Houſe or Field, or in whatever Place,
They take no Room, nor fill up any Space.
In Works of Judgment, thus much Scripture ſays,
They're oft employ'd, yet are not ſo always;
For even in Works of Mercy they alſo
Are oft employed about the Saints below.
It was from Angels Abraham and Lot
Of Sodom's Ruin Information got.
Jacob, Elijah and Eliſhah, they
Were much beholden to them in their Day;
Gideon, Manoah, Ezekiel, Daniel too,
Great things the Lord by Angels did them ſhew.
Joseph and Mary, Paul and Peter may
Have on this Subject very much to ſay.
Much on this Head there might be now expreſt,
Which Scripture doth in divers Parts atteſt;
Yea, all theſe Spirits, as the Word declares,
Do miniſter unto the heavenly Heirs;
Thus with a ſecret and an unſeen Hand
Do them more good than what they underſtand.
Ezekiel's Viſion doth declare and ſhow
How inſtrumental they're in things below.
In fine, the Angels, tho' but finite Creatures,
Exceed us far, to comprehend their Natures.
My Lines about them therefore I will end,
And from ſuch Heights as thir I'll now deſcend
Unto the World below, where there do ly
Things that appear more obvious to our Eye.
It seems plain from what's in Scripture ſaid,
The Earth's Foundation the firſt Day was laid;
God by one Word did form the Fabrick fair
All out of nought, then hang'd it in the Air,
So ſure and ſtable yet he did it make,
It there's no Power, except his own, can ſhake:
He it with all it in its Heart doth hold
With all within its Bowels is inroll'd,
Veins of Silver or of precious Gold;
With all the various Metals that we find,
So vastly uſeful for the human Kind;
The huge Store of Coal that in it doth ly,
Which doth with Fuel richly us ſupply,
When once obtained by Men's Induſtry.
The liquid Deep, the which did then run over.
The Earth's Surface, and it entirely cover;
Theſe Fountains great of Water did proceed
On the firſt Day from God their Fountain-head:
He Earth and Waters on this Day did make,
Both from his Hand their Origin did take.
But at this Time the Earth, the Air and Water,
Were all but one confuſed Heap of Matter;
The cold, the hot, the temp'rate, moiſt and dry,
In one profound confuſed Heap did ly;
A monſtrous Face the new Creation wears,
And void of Order, Form, and Light appears,
Till God who call'd the Chaos out of nought.
From thence all things to Form and Order brought;
In Order firſt a glorious God of Might
From this Confuſion he extracted Light,
When by a Word moſt powerful and divine.
He out of Darkneſs made the Light to ſhine;
Let there be Light, he ſaid, and preſently
The Light ſprang up, and made the Darkneſs fly,
Whoſe glorious Rays did chaſe the ſame away,
For all the Time and Seaſon of the Day.
Then Divine Order did allow the Light
To give the Darkneſs Place again at Night,
Which by alternate Turns of Night and Day,
While Time ſhall laſt to other ſhall give way;
As things of contrar Nature oft ſet forth,
And recommend their Excellence and Worth.
The Excellence of Light from thence we learn,
When we the Darkneſs of the Night diſcern;
But by what Mean the Lord on this firſt Day
Did then this Light unto the World diſplay,
This to define, I verily ſuppoſe,
There is no Creature, but the Angels, knows.
But by what Mean, or whatſoever thing,
The Lord made Light upon this Day to ſpring.
We're ſure that Light, that pure and precious Creature,
Is the moſt ancient of the Works of Nature;
And ſo it may be called God's firſt born,
Which doth all Beauties of the Earth adorn.
This Creature, Light, we juſtly may admire,
Its bears ſuch Likeneſs to its heavenly Sire;
Making of which, the Lord did then conclude
The firſt Day's Work, and then did call it good.
The Waters now which at this Time did ſo
O'er all the Surface of the Earth o'erflow,
As if the World an Ocean it had been,
And then no Spot of Land was to be ſeen.
The ſecond Day a Firmament ſo wide,
The Lord did make the Waters to divide;
On which expanded Firmament and Air,
The Waters running on Earth-Surface there:
From off the Earth Part of them then was drain'd
Up to the Clouds exhal'd, and there contain'd,
Till at God's Pleaſure down again they're rain'd.
Another Part of theſe muſt ſink and go
Unto the ſubterranean Caves below.
What ſtill remain'd on Earth, the Lord did make
Unto their proper Channels to betake;
Diſperſ'd them into leſs or more Degrees,
Of running Water, Rivers, Lakes and Seas.
When of the Waters God had thus diſpos'd,
Then the new Earth its naked Head diſclos'd.
The Sea being plac'd around upon each Hand,
Its ſwelling Waves invirons every Land;
Tho' it would ſeem a moſt unruly Creature,
'Tis yet obedient to the God of Nature:
It when ſequeſtrate from the Land, did ſeem
As if it would with one impetuous Stream
Break over all its Boundaries, and ſo
The Earth again entirely overflow:
But divine Power did prove to it a Let,
And Bars and Doors into its Way did ſet.
A Cloud its Garment made the divine Hand,
And Darkneſs thick to it a ſwaddling Band.
In fine, the Lord hath by divine Decree
Set Bounds unto the raging of the Sea;
Thus far ſhould come, us great Creator ſaid,
And here ſhall even thy proudeſt Waves be ſtaid.
Creation-Work thus far a length muſt be,
Own'd great indeed in its Kind and Degree;
How great ſoever here below, 'tis what
Entirely's dead, and quite inanimate.
Some thing more worthy of him yet remain'd,
In whom the Fountain of all Life's contain'd.
In all the World there's nothing growing found,
It lies as yet a Piece of empty Ground:
This must not be; it is too large a Field,
For to ly barren, and thus nothing yield.
How ſoon the Caſe thus alter'd was, we may
Find by what God did do on the third Day.
When on this Day the Earth thus to prepare,
Now from the Waters ſeparate, and there
For Man that was to be created, it
Might then be made a Habitation fit;
God's Being, the Fountain of all Virtue, now,
And Power at once he did proclaim, and ſhew
Himſelf the God of Nature; yet that he
Of all its Rules was abſolute and free:
Th' Almighty Agent every way above.
And independent of them all to prove;
Or e'er the Earth the Husbandman did know.
Or any Labour on't he did beſtow,
One Drop of Rain or Dew did on it fall,
Or with the Sun-beams warmed was at all,
He bleſt it with ſuch great Fertility,
Herbs, Trees and Plants it brought forth inſtantly;
The Oak, the Cedar, the aſpiring Pine,
Shoots quick to Heaven, and meets the Word divine:
Nor no Delay was now of Day or Year,
'Tween Trees being planted and their Time to bear,
But all at once were laden and decor'd,
With manifold ripe Fruits were richly ſtor'd;
Herbs, Plants and Flowers ſo fragrant, freſh and fair.
As might perfume and ſcent the very Air.
The Lord this Day did ſo adorn the Field,
And made it ſuch a Store of Beauties yield.
That Solomon in all his grand Array
So great a Glory never could diſplay.
A Summer-Houſe most pleaſant Adam wou'd
In Eden's Garden, of it ſurely had.
In which he might have liv'd, until he'd even
Exchang'd it for a better Place in Heaven.
Yea, O what Pleaſure might we all liv'd in
This World, had not the curs'd Wind of Sin
Upon it been permitted thus to blow,
And all its Beauty thus defaced ſo!
Again the Lord he did on the fourth Day
The Firmament of Heaven then array,
And did beſpangle it with the glorious Sun,
The Moon and Stars all in their Courſe to run.
As for the Light on the first Day, that was
Extracted firſt from the confuſed Maſs,
The Lord ordain'd theſe Beams of Light and Fire
Should all into one ſhining Orb retire.
Which to Earth's different Quarters ſhould diſpenſe
His ſhining Rays and warming Influence.
And this great Light immensely bright and gay,
The Lord ordained for to rule the Day;
The Moon again, which is the leſſer Light,
The Lord ordained for to rule by Night.
It both from Senſe and ſacred Writ appears
These Lights divide our Seaſons, Days and Years;
The radiant Sol with certain circuiting,
Makes Summer, Winter, Autumn and the Spring,
He always long or ſhort doth make our Days,
As he withdraws or viſits with his Rays.
For one Half-year he doth the ſame increaſe,
The other Half diminiſh and make leſs:
Two Times each Year the Sun he doth divide
Our Days and Nights equal on either Side;
One Month in th' Year he more than ſixteen Hours
Diſplays his Light and Heat about our Bowers;
Another Month there is each Year, he then
Doth little more than ſix with us remain,
[1] 'Thoſe dwelling under th' Equinoctial, they
'Have all the Year long equal Night and Day;
'Thoſe near the Tropicks have them more uneven,
'The more, the more that they are Norward driven:
'But thoſe whoſe Tents to either Pole are near,
'Have but one Night and one Day in a Year,
'Yet all well compaſs'd by due ruled Rite,
'Neither, than other, hath more Dark or Light.'
Thus there's no Nation, Kindred, Tongue nor Speech,
But what ſome time he Light to them doth reach;
Likewiſe the Moon and Stars of Heaven, alſo
Have all their proper Influence below.
Thus unto every Ordinance of Heaven
An Order's by the God of Nature given,
Each doth the Courſe that is aſſign'd them ſteer,
According to each Seaſon of the Year.
This newly lighted Lamp of Heaven, the Sun,
On this fourth Day to ſhine had new begun,
Set out his Race and Circuit for to run.
The Day preceeding, as before was ſaid,
With Graſs and Trees the Earth ſo rich array'd,
When on the Flowers he downward did diſpenſe
His ſhining Rays and warming Influence,
His Beams that ſuch a radiant Luſtre have,
A new Addition to their Splendor gave.
Sun, Moon and Stars, now all and each of them
Do ſo adorn and paint the arched Frame;
In Order next, on the fifth Day, the Lord
With living Creatures Air and Waters ſtor'd.
When on this Day the Region of the Air,
The proper Place for flying Motion there.
Cutting their Way towards the Cryſtal Sky,
The winged Choir with painted Wings do fly.
Who can deſcribe the Sizes of them all,
From the great Eagle to the Wren ſo ſmall!
And ſome of them there is that ſmaller be
Yet than the Wren, and of a leſs Degree;
And as they are of many various Kind,
So by their Natures variouſly inclin'd;
For ſome among them there are to be found
That only ſit and chatter on the Ground,
While others do aſcend the Trees and ſing,
And make the Woods and Valleys all to ring,
During the Time and Season of the Spring.
The chearful Lark from of the Ground doth riſe,
And upwards ſoar as if ſhe'd mount the Skies;
And while ſhe makes her Way up thro' the Air,
She all the while moſt ſweetly ſingeth there;
Still Heaven-ward goes, as ſhe her Notes doth raiſe,
By ſweet melodious early Songs; theſe Ways,
In her own Kind, ſhe doth her Maker praiſe.
The Black Bird now and Nightingale is found
In every Buſh to make a pleasant Sound,
Their various Notes to make a ſweet Compound.
In fine, ſo many various Kinds of Notes
Come warbling thro' their little narrow Throats,
It looks as Nature had deſign'd by them.
Inſtructing Men in the whole Art and Game
Of Muſick, in its ſeveral Gradation,
Here by this Choir of the wing'd Creation:
They all at once do by their Singing prove,
That they are Praiſers of their God above,
And to that Exerciſe they do all ſo
Admoniſh Man that is on Earth below.
I can't deſcribe the vaſt Variety
Of Fowls that in the open Air do fly:
The Eagle, as of her we do hear tell,
For Strength and Greatneſs doth ſo much excel;
With ſo much Strength and Courage ſhe's endow'd,
And when ſhe's old, her Age it is renew'd;
Her Nest ſhe makes upon a Rock on high,
From thence the Things that are afar doth ſpy,
She's vaſtly ſet upon the Prey, and where
The Slain is, you will often find her there,
The Hawk which doth with ſo much Wiſdom fly,
And lights with ſo much Regularity.
The Peacock for a great Variety
Of Feathers that ſo goodly are and fine,
That ſhe with them in Beauty ſo doth ſhine,
Doth evidence the Work to be divine.
The Pelican, as what by ſome is ſhew'd,
With ſtrong Affection to her Brood endu'd;
Thus of the Pelican is ſaid, but then
The Oſtrich, is the quite reverſe again.
The beautiful, the chaſte and harmleſs Dove,
Which to its Mate doth always faithful prove.
The Parrot’s Voice the neareſt to doth reach
The human Kind, in aping them in Speech.
The little, yet the great laborious Bee
Is ſingular for its great Induſtry,
In Summer ſhews ſuch Diligence and Care,
It wings its Way thro' tractleſs Paths of Air;
Some diſtant Miles out from its little Dome,
In queſt of Flowers throughout the Fields doth roam;
From all the various Flowers it lights upon,
Of different Taſte, it nothing ſucks but one;
Their Taſte however vaſtly oppoſite,
Is by the Genius of the Bee unite,
Who from the bitter ſtill doth ſuck the ſweet
When fully freighted, then it doth go home
With all its Store in to the Honey-comb,
And for the Work the little Bee hath there,
Excels the greatest Artiſt to compare.
Thus I've given now a brief Relation
Of ſome few Creatures of the wing'd Creation,
Inſiſt what need I further on this Theme,
When all of them at once aloud proclaim
Greatneſs unto their great Creator's Name.
And on this Day the Fowls they did poſſeſs,
This World alone in greateſt Quietneſs,
Some in the Buſh, ſome in the open Air,
Free from the Fowler's Gin and ſubtile Snare.
But as the Fowls that fly in Air above,
Even ſo the Fiſh that in the Deeps do move,
From ſacred Writ we are aſſur'd that they
Created were alſo on the fifth Day.
As for the Waters wonderful of Spring,
That divine Power did there to Being bring';
Who's he again that's able to declare,
Or ſpeak of all the Creatures that are there?
The various Forms and Sizes of that Tribe,
Who can minutely pourtray or deſcribe?
There's ſuch a vaſt and ſuch a numerous Brood
That ſwims into and cuts the ſwelling Flood,
To try to name theſe vaſtly numerous Creatures,
Or to define their various different Natures;
This unto me a Depth would equal prove,
Like to the Depth into the which they move:
The numerous Shoals that are in Depths below,
Are like the Waves that do them overflow;
He who the Stars that's in the heavenly Frame
Can number, he can only number them.
An Ocean great of Wonders, ſurely we
May in the Offspring of the Waters ſee;
Whilſt many of the Fiſhes that are there
Have Scales like Silver glittering white and fair;
Their checquer'd Spots ſo curious and rare,
That ſcarce the wing'd Creation in the Air
Can equal them for Beauty, or compare.
Others by Shapes and Forms ſo odd, proclaim
And ſpeak, tho' mute, their great Creator's Fame.
As other Creatures, so the Waters Brood,
The human Kind ſupply with Store of Food;
Man's empty Belly for to fill, ſeems what
Of Fiſh th' Ocean would evacuate:
Nor this, nor that alone, can him ſuffice,
But his luxurious Appetite to pleaſe,
The whole Creation falls a Sacrifice.
Nought for Man's Uſe from Death he doth exeem.
On Earth, in Air, or in the Deeps that ſwim.
As for the great and monſtrous Kind of Whales,
Like living Iſlands in the Ocean ſails,
The One and fortieth Chapter of that Book
That's called Job, unto it if we look,
The following Lines that's written, I ſuppoſe,
Will correſpond with what is there in Proſe.
Neither his Parts, nor yet his Power,
Conceal them not I will,
But his Proportion comely, I
Will ſet out to the full:
A Heart that's equal to a Stone
For its Firmneſs he has.
Yea even as hard as a Piece of
The Nether Millſtone is;
His Garments Face diſcover, who
Can do, that he doth wear,
Or with his double Bridle, who
Unto him can draw near!
Diſcloſe the Doors that's in his Mouth,
Who dares to be ſo ſtout!
His Teeth they are moſt terrible,
Appearing round about:
His Scales his Pride are, and ſhut up
So cloſe as with a Seal;
Between them comes no Air, they are
Together join'd ſo well.
So cloſe unite they are unto,
And ſtick ſo faſt together,
They cannot be ſundered,
Not ſeparate from other;
And by his Neeſings there doth ſhine
A Light that is ſo clear;
His Eyes like to the Eye-lids of
The Morning doth appear.
Out of his Mouth go burning Lamps
And Sparks of Fire leap out
Out of his Noſtrils Smoke, as from
A ſeething pot goes out.
His Breath it kindleth Coals, a Flame
Out of his Mouth it burns;
In his Neck Strength remains, and Grief
To Joy before him turns.
Thus far my Thoughts on theſe five Days that's past,
What follows now is the ſixth and the laſt.
The Air above the Waters here below
With living Creatures both are furniſh'd ſo.
The Bird now ſoars aloft into the Air,
Now freely flies, and ſweetly ſingeth there.
The Fiſh, tho' mute, do that her Pleaſure ſwim,
And play herſelf in to the gliding Stream.
The Earth, who by its Maker was deſign'd
To be a Dwelling for the human Kind,
Void of all Creatures, ſtill as yet doth ly;
The Lord, to ſhew his All-ſufficiency,
Doth next and laſt in Order it ſupply.
The Lord he doth then upon the ſixth Day,
Creating Power again once more diſplay,
By which the Earth, which empty was before,
Of living Creatures he doth richly ſtore.
As each Day's Work that did this Day preceed,
Even ſo doth this great Admiration breed.
Another Hoſt of Creatures now appears,
Each Marks of Power and divine Wiſdom bears:
Here we might find a Field wherein to treat,
Large like that Field, affords thoſe Creatures Meat,
Whoſe vaſt and huge Dimenſions to deſcry,
Doth all the Skill of Geographers try:
Philoſophers, for all the Pains they take.
And Searches into natural Things they make.
Into this Deep howe'er they plode, yet ſtill
They meet with Things that do ſurmount their Skill.
What Reaſon by them e'er can be aſſign'd.
Why Creatures differ ſo much in their Kind?
What various Sizes is there them among.
Some weak and feeble, others huge and ſtrong,
Who can for this aſſign another Cauſe?
But ſo the Will of their Creator was.
The Works of God are all ſo great and good,
To be admir'd, not fully underſtood:
As all God's Works, even ſo this ſixth Day's, can
Be but admir'd, not fathomed by Man.
The divine Word of Pow'r, at whoſe great Call
Nothing produced Matter, whereof all
Things they were made that's found in any where
Of Earth or Waters, or the open Air,
Call'd to the Earth, that now it forth ſhould bring
All Kind of Beaſts and every creeping Thing;
The Earth, tho' deaf, heard what its Maker ſaid.
And his Demand it preſently obey'd;
The Duſt, tho' dead, did by Omnipotence,
Things into Life and Form at once commence,
The Voice of God, which makes the Deaf to hear.
Caus'd Creatures made of Earth upon't appear,
And theſe of many various Sort and Kind,
Anſwering the Idea of their Maker's Mind.
Some tamer Cattle plac'd are on the Land
For Food and Raiment, both muſt be at hand;
While other ſome that are more wild and ſtrange,
Are left, the Woods and Wilderneſs to range:
Some of them are like to the Lion, he
The Strength and Pride who of the Wood muſt be;
This King of Beaſts makes, if he do but roar,
His Fellow Creatures tremble him before.
The Dromedary, and the Aſs that's stil'd
So by her Nature, and Untam'dneſs wild;
In populous Cities their Delight is leſs
Than in the Deſart or the Wilderneſs.
The Unicorn, the Leopard and the Bear,
The Wolf and Tyger, Fox and Fallow-deer,
All theſe to Woods and Deſarts do retire.
The warlike Horſe appears now on the Field,
Who laughs at Fear, and mocks the glittering Shield,
The Dragon's Power, Subtilty and Rage,
His Prey muſt fall a Victim to aſſwage;
Eyes ſparkling Fire moſt terrible he hath,
Who ſeldom ſleeps, moſt poiſonous his Breath;
He on all Herbs that's poiſonous and ill
Delights to feed when he's about to kill;
Below his Tongue, there hid in Secrecy,
The bitter Gall and Venom it doth ly;
So vaſtly fitted for the Prey is he,
His Rows of Teeth in Number triple be:
By all ſuch Qualities as theſe he's fit
To repreſent the Dragon of the Pit.
The Elephant, ſo vaſtly huge and great,
As what his Maker fully doth relate:
His very Tail, 'tis ſaid of it that he
Doth move it like unto the Cedar-tree,
Unto ſtrong Braſs, 'tis in the Word declar'd,
And Iron Bars his Bones they are compar'd;
Surely the Mountains Food to him do yield,
Whereon do play all Beaſts that's in the Field;
In Covert of the Reeds and Fens, and Shade
Of Trees, he lies, and there he makes his Bed;
To drink, great Rivers ſcarce can him ſupply.
He truſts he can the River Jordan dry.
The ſacred Scripture alſo of him ſays.
That he is chief of his Creator's Ways,
He that did make him by his powerful Word,
Can make approach to him his killing Sword.
In fine, all Kind of Beaſts that's to be found
To move on Earth, or creep upon the Ground,
Of every Sort, however great or ſmall,
On this ſixth Day the Lord did make them all.
From the firſt Day that he to Work began,
All Things were made according to the Plan,
Drawn in his Mind about the World, but Man.
We now have ſeen the World here below
In all its Stories and Apartments ſo,
With living Creatures ſtor'd of all Degrees,
Now in the Earth, the Air, and in the Seas:
Creation-Work is now advanced far.
And all Things made in great Perfection are;
The Earth's Foundation now moſt firmly ſtood,
Eſtabliſh'd ſure upon the liquid Flood;
The ſpacious Sea around now on each Hand,
With ſwelling Waves environs every Land.
How beautiful the verdant Field appears
With Graſs and Flowers and fruitful Trees it bears;
By Day the Sun unto the World gives Light,
The Moon and Stars now do the ſame by Night;
The feather'd Hoſts now fly in Air above.
Great Shoals of Fiſhes in the Deeps now move:
What Store of Beaſts is now upon the field,
Which in abundance Food to them do yield ?
The ſtately Fabrick of the World thus ſtood,
Its Maker view'd it, and pronounc'd it good;
Yet ſtill the curious divine Architect
Doth in his Work eſpy a grand Defect,
Something undone, which he of old deſign'd
In the eternal Council of his Mind;
The glorious Creator's Arms, and great,
Was not as yet ſet up before the Gate.
The great Creator yet no Creature here
Had like himſelf, that did his Image beat;
Nor here below no Creature any where,
That could poſſeſs this World as his Heir;
No Being wiſe, intelligent, to be
His great Viceroy as yet on Earth had he,
To God from the Creation did belong
A Revenue of Praiſe; but then among
All Creatures that were in the World below,
There's none them was qualified ſo,
Except it was in merely paſſive Ways,
Were none of them that could their Maker praiſe;
There's one a wanting yet for to become
A praiſing Mouth to the Creation dumb:
As for the Angels, theſe ſo glorious Creatures,
And Animals were of ſuch different Natures,
The one being Spirits pure entire, whereas
The other groſs material Subſtance was;
Their Natures thus remote from one another,
They no Communion then could have together;
Creating Power a Proof did yet remain,
To make a real Compound of the twain.
All other Creatures in Air, Sea or Land,
They all were made by his divine Command;
But here the Council of the great Three-One
Was call'd, and thus they counſelled upon;
This matchleſs Council then did undertake,
That Man in their own Image they ſhould make,
And that all Creatures in Earth, Air and Sea,
Should in Subjection to this Creature be;
Then divine Power unto him did give Birth,
But fram'd his Body of the Duſt or Earth,
But caſt in a more curious Frame and Mould,
Than to imagine ever Angels could;
Of that bit Clay the Potter did produce
A Veſſel fitted for the Maſter's Uſe:
O ſtrange! to ſee ſo glorious a Creature,
Made of ſuch baſe and corrupt Kind of Matter.
Man's Body fram'd by divine Power and Art,
Is but his natural, not his divine Part:
'Tis but deſign'd a Cabinet or Shell
In which his more refined Part might dwell;
God breath'd in him the Breath of Life, and then
A living Soul this Creature he became;
At once to him his Maker did impart
Life, and did plant his Image in his Heart:
And now this Creature he is to be found
To ſtand upright and walk upon the Ground:
His Form of Body ſo erect and even,
There's not his Mate, nor like below the Heav'n;
While all the Beaſts did downward caſt an Eye,
Man's lofty Looks was to the Heavens high,
To ſhew that there his Happineſs did ly.
Such Majeſty did in his Looks appear,
Did ſtrike all Creatures with a Dread or Fear:
This laſt made Creature God did honour more
Than all the Creatures made on Earth before.
But Adam all this while is yet alone,
In all the World his Equal there was none;
While every other Creature has its Mate,
Of Adam's Kind there's none for him to get:
The intelligent excellent human Nature
Extends but yet unto one ſingle Creature,
The ſpacious Univerſe is ſo large, that he
The Inhabitant of it alone ſhould be:
The numerous Angels neither must they ſo,
While they're above, deſpiſe Man that's below,
While ſolitary he alone doth go.
And there's not one with him of his own Kind,
The Events prov'd, that thus the Lord deſign'd
That Generations numerous ſhould proceed
From Adam, as the Root and Fountain-head,
On which the Lord deſigns he ſhould fulfil
Th' eternal Council of his Mind and Will.
Then Adam he muſt have a Mate, that by
Her he may have much Seed and Progeny:
The Lord ſtrangely ſupplied him in that,
Which in this Way he did effectuate.
By cauſing Adam fall in a deep Sleep,
That he from Senſe and Feeling might him keep
Then from his Side a Rib he did take out,
While Adam he knew nothing it about;
For being caſt into a Sleep ſo ſound,
We never read that Pain he of it found;
The Vacancy the Rib's Want did make in
His Side, he did fill up with Fleſh and Skin:
This Rib the Lord from Adam's Side did take,
A Mate of it to Adam, he did make
Another knowing reaſonable Creature,
Of different Sex, but like himſelf in Feature.
The Power of God did ſoon convert the Bone
Into a Woman, in whom Virtue ſhone.
And Beauty, both to ſuch a high Degree,
That of her Sex 'tis very ſore that we,
Nor no Age ſince her Match did ever ſee:
Illuſtrious Beauty in her Face did ſhine,
Who was endow'd with Qualities divine.
Doubtleſs it was a great and ſweet Surprize
To Adam, when he did from Sleep ariſe,
To ſee his Image ſtand before his Eyes.
This Rib the Lord from Adam took, he then
With great Advantage him reſtor'd again;
When of the Rib he'd taken from his Side,
He now preſents him with a glorious Bride:
Fleſh of Man's Fleſh, and Bone of Adam's Bone,
Was Woman made, theſe two were made of one;
And being two, the Lord ordained then
That theſe ſame two ſhould be made one again.
All Creatures now are made of every Kind,
That he to make within ſix Days deſign'd:
For Woman was, as Scripture gives Relation,
The Stroke that clos'd and finiſh'd the Creation.
On the Uprightness of Adam and Eve at their Creation.
When Adam dropt from his Creator's Hand,
In Soul and Body upright he did ſtand;
The Law in Sum was then with holy Art
Engrav'd and ſtampt on Adam's upright Heart,
Into his Soul then did each Faculty
Exactly the divine Rule comply;
With Rays of Heav'n, and Light that was divine,
His Underſtanding like a Lamp did ſhine.
He then enjoy'd Serenity of Mind,
Without a Cloud of whatſoever Kind.
His Knowledge was in every thing compleat,
In Things divine and natural exquiſite.
His Will then ſtraight like to a Line did ly,
And to his Will that made him, did comply.
His pure Affections then aloft did move
Up towards Heaven in higheſt Strains of Love.
His Conſcience like a Chryſtal Mirror clear,
Did, while he ſtood in Innocence, appear.
This Adam he was now in ev'ry Part,
A Man according to his Maker's Heart.
All this and more may juſtly be applied
Unto the new-made Adam and his Bride:
Serene Impreſſions of a Stamp divine,
As in their Soul, did in their Faces ſhine.
Our firſt Parents in the Garden.
IN Eden's Garden then the Man was plac'd,
Which was ſo vastly beautify'd and grac'd.
The fineſt Gardens that we do ſee now,
That Men take ſo much Pleaſure for to view
In Summer, and that Seaſon of the Year
When in their Pride and Glory they appear;
To make theſe Gardens now the more compleat,
Now human Art with Nature is unite,
Adorning them with all that ever can
Be e'er invented by the Wit of Man:
What Arrogance yet would it be to ſay,
The finest Gardens that are now a-day,
Could equalize, or Competition ſtand
With Eden planted by a divine hand?
More than the Fields in Winter when they're bare,
Can with the flow'ry Bank in Spring compare;
Or more than Stones can Competition hold
With glittering Rings, or Diamonds, or Gold.
God all Things good did make, 'tis ſaid, but yet
Of Eden's Garden that he planted it;
The which Expreſſion plainly doth imply
And ſpeak its Fineneſs and Excellency
Above all Parts of Earth: This did denote
It was the beſt and moſt delightful Spot
That was in all the Univerſe beſide,
Tho' it was all into its Bloom and Pride.
Into this Garden then no noxious Weed
Does once appear for to ſet up its Head.
While Adam ſtood, we don't ſuppoſe the Earth
To Weeds, or Thorns, or Briers did give Birth;
But there's no Doubt that in this Garden grew
Each flagrant Flower of every Kind and Hue,
To Sight ſo pleasant, ſavoury to ſmell,
Which to be ſure there nothing could excel.
That Nature’s whole Quinteſcence was incloſ'd
In Eden's Garden, may be well ſuppos'd.
The Character it gets in ſacred Writ
May be abundant Evidence of it.
The Lord to Adam in this Place had giv'n
A little Emblem, as it were, of Heav'n:
Which Way e'er Adam turn'd his raviſh'd Eyes,
Wou'd gilded Scenes and ſhining Proſpects riſe;
The radiant Sun, with the meridian Light,
Made Nature's Beauties ſtill appear more bright:
Soft Zephyr blowing with a gentle Breeze,
Refreſhing Gales among the Flow'rs and Trees;
The Air then doubtleſs was ſerene and clear:
With what a Face would Eden then appear!
Then Man might ſay, 'tis good for to be here.
Thus Eden was of all the whole Creation
A Place moſt fit for divine Contemplation;
And for Enjoyments of a natural Kind,
The World its Equal never yet could find:
Rivers of Pleaſures pure without Alloy,
Did Adam in this Place and State enjoy;
For when he did his Maker's Image bear,
He from no Airth then needed Danger fear.
Then by all Creatures Adam was ador'd,
They all paid Homage to him as their Lord.
As the Reſult of Holineſs it flow'd,
The Happiness on Adam was beſtow'd;
While he from Sin was free and undefil'd.
Both Heav'n and Earth at once upon him ſmil'd.
Here laviſh Nature, bounteous of her Store,
Did fill his Cup, and made it to run o'er:
This Garden, which was ſtor'd with all Degrees
Of beſt and fineſt Kinds of fruitful Trees,
Load with all Kinds of ripe and pleaſant Fruit,
Could pleaſe the Eyes, or yet the Taſte could ſuit.
Of all which Fruit that in this Garden grew.
The Uſe of it the Lord did Man allow:
Of whate'er Tree it was he judged meet,
Excepting one forbidden, he could eat;
But this by him that gave him Life and Breath,
He was discharg'd to eat, on Pain of Death.
Should carnal Reaſon now object and ſay,
Why did the Lord with Adam deal this Way,
When Man was ſuch a Favourite of Heaven,
And all Things elſe into his Hand had given.
That he is Lord of all the World, but then
Debarr'd from this on ſuch an awful Pain?
It is not fit that any Man ſhould pry
Into the Secrets of the Deity,
Or what he doth, to ask a Reaſon why.
The Lord did make both Adam and the Trees,
Both were his own to do with as he pleaſe:
His ſovereign Pleaſure was ſufficient Cauſe,
Why Adam of this Tree prohibit was;
Yet higheſt Reaſon cannot but ſubmit
Unto the Reaſons may be giv'n for it.
How highly was it reaſonable then,
When God thus made and high exalted Man,
When he on Earth had ſuch Dominion given,
To let him know his Sovereign was in Heaven,
And to appoint him ſomething for a Teſt,
That Man's Obedience by't might be expreſt
Unto his God, and hence to let him know
That he it was did all on him beſtow?
Beſide, the Lord, Man's great Creator, did,
When he did Adam of this Tree forbid,
Great condeſcending Goodneſs to him ſhow,
Whilſt he tranſacted with his Creatures ſo.
The Laws of Nature and Creation, they
Obliged Man his God for to obey;
And tho' that Man had thouſand Ages ſtood.
In Thought and Word done nothing elſe but Good,
Of his own Creature to diſpoſe was free,
And might without enquiring of him then,
Reduce him to his native Duſt again.
But now the Word proceeding from the Mouth
Of him that is the very God of Truth,
On Man's Account the Lord is now no leſs
Than Debtor to his Truth and Faithfulneſs:
The Lord that made him did not need to ſtand
On Terms with Man, the Work of his own Hand:
Obedience was ſurely Adam's Due,
Tho' to his God he that ſhould never ſhew,
Yet to the ſame, God had ſo great Regard,
As to annex thereto a vaſt Reward;
Such was the Kindneſs of indulgent Heav'n,
As was to Man in the firſt Cov'nant giv'n.
Death which of eating was the Penalty,
Did, if he eat not, Life to him imply;
And had he in Obedience endur'd.
Eternal Life unto him was ſecur'd.
How happy had he and his Seed remain'd,
If he had this primeval State maintain'd:
But O! this State of Man, the firſt and beſt
That's here enjoy'd, did very ſhort while laſt;
Scarce taſting Joy, when taſting Fruit anon,
His happy State evaniſh'd is and gone!
On Adam's Fall.
SAtan that fell from Happineſs of late,
Envied Adam of the happy State
He did in Eden at this Time poſſeſs,
As the Reſult of perfect Holineſs;
And knowing Adam's Happineſs did ſtand
In his obeying the divine Command,
He all his Art and Malice did employ,
That he might Adam's Happineſs deſtroy,
Till Man was made, by Hell's alluring Art,
Quite from the Laws of Heaven to depart.
Thus ſubtile Satan in a Serpent hid,
Did tempt to eat the Fruit that God forbid;
Thus wylie Satan ſeem'd the Friend of Eve,
Till by ſuch Means he Woman did deceive:
So far he did prevail on her, that he
Made her to eat of that forbidden Tree;
She of the Fruit unto her Husband gave,
Who his own Death did from her Hand receive.
Then at his Mouth he drank the Poison in,
And by this Deed delug'd the World in Sin.
Altho' he ſtill ſurviv'd, and drew his Breath,
And did not then juſt die a natural Death;
Yet was it true, as God had teſtify'd,
That on that Day he eat this Fruit he dy'd:
He dy'd in what his Life did most conſiſt.
That was in Likeneſs to his Maker bleſt;
For even as ſoon as he this Fruit did taſte,
His Maker's Image in him was defac'd.
Now, now he fell down from the high Degree
Of Holineſs and pure Integrity;
The Lamp of Light was ſeated in his Mind,
Is now blown out, and left him dark and blind;
His Will, which once like to his Maker's was,
Fill'd with Rebellion 'gainſt his holy Laws:
Now his whole Soul with Sin and Guilt was ſtain'd.
No Part left free or uncorrupt remain'd.
Thus Adam for his Sin and bold Offence,
Fell from his bliſsful State of Innocence;
From Height of Bliſs at once he tumbled down.
And loſt his God, his Glory, and his Crown.
Thus Satan's Bait of raiſing Man more high,
Procur'd his Fall, and made him low to ly.
His Eyes were open'd now to ſee his Shame,
Through Sin that did his Nakedneſs proclaim;
A guilty Conſcience did upon him ſeize,
Which made him run to hide among the Trees.
Of God, in whom his chiefeſt Comfort lay,
He's now afraid, and fain would fly away.
His inward Peace, Joy and Tranquility,
All in a Moment quickly off did fly:
His Tides of outward Conſolations, they
As ſoon abated and decay'd away.
Now his Dominion o'er the Creatures, he
Did loſe it alſo in a great Degree.
The Lion againſt him did ne'er rebel,
'Till Adam firſt from his Perfection fell.
The Earth alſo by him that did it make,
Was curs'd for the rebellious Creature's Sake,
Tho' it before did of its own Accord
All Things produce unto its Sovereign Lord.
Now of its Fruit he muſt not henceforth eat,
'Till it he earn with Labour, Toil and Sweat;
And as a Fruit of Man's Offence, the Field
Thorns and Thirties unto him ſhould yield.
Now of Earth's Fruit, the great Creator ſays,
Man now muſt eat in Sorrow all his Days;
And as from Duſt he taken was, ſo then
To Duſt he alſo must return again.
And Death, with all the Ills which it preceed,
Are all dire Effects of this fatal Deed
Of Man's Tranſgreſſion. But who can expreſs
What Adam now did loſe of Happineſs,
Heaven above, and Paradiſe below.
At once Man forfeit with tranſgreſſing ſo
Whence come the Crosses that's ſo thick and rife,
So interwoven thro' the Thread of Life,
That there's no Rank, no Station, no Degree,
From the contagious Taint of Sorrow free?
Whence come Diſeaſes of a thouſand Kind,
That pain the Body, Cares that vex the Mind?
From whence doth all ſuch Miſery take Root?
From Adam's eating the forbidden Fruit.
But then our Loſs of a ſpiritual Kind,
Is that whereof we are most dark and blind;
Man's greateſt Loſs lies from his Sight conceal'd,
His Burden heavieſt where it leaſt is feel'd.
Each Child of Adam ever ſince he fell,
By Nature is a Child of Wrath and Hell.
Adam, in fine, did, by this fatal Deed,
Deſtroy himſelf at once and all his Seed.
Bleſt be the Lord, that of his Love and Grace,
Left not all Men to perish in the Caſe.
On Mans Rise and Redemption through Jesus Christ.
O What is Man that he who did him make,
Should ſuch Account or Knowledge of him take!
First fram'd of Duſt, then raiſed up ſo high,
To ſo much Honour, Power and Dignity;
And when, through Sin, he's fall'n ſo low, ev'n then,
Is at ſuch Coſt to raiſe him up again.
When Satan our our first Parents had deceiv'd.
And them of all their Happineſs bereav'd;
When ſelf-deſtroying Mankind now did ly,
Plung'd in the deep Abyſs of Miſery,
The Lord, to whom in Time can nought enſue,
But what from all Eternity he knew;
Foreſaw how Man through Sin would foully fall,
And unto Death ſubject his Children all,
And to what Kind of Miſeries and Woes
He would himſelf and all his Seed expoſe:
In View of this, the Lord for fallen Man,
Laid in his Mind a great and glorious Plan;
Infinite Wiſdom ſo contriv'd the Scheme,
It doth the Glory of Jehovah's Name,
Both from and to Eternity proclaim.
This Way in which the Lord doth Man redeem,
It is ſo vaſt, myſterious and ſublime;
It is a Way that even doth tranſcend
The Minds of Angels for to comprehend:
Far leſs can Reaſon, at its highest Stretch,
This Myſtery be able for to reach.
God in this Work does ſhew his Glory more
Than he did by creating Power before.
Into this Work each Attribute divine
Doth with a moſt reſplendent Luſtre ſhine.
Mercy that ſeem'd obſcure, doth now appear,
And Heaven's clouded Sky begins to clear.
That God is juſt, he in this Work declar'd,
A God of Juſtice, yet the Rebel ſpar'd.
He vindicates his Truth and Verity,
Yet ſaves the Soul that he ſentenc'd to dy.
His Holineſs and Righteouſneſs doth here
Shine in this Work moſt radiant and clear.
His hating Sin he in this Work doth prove,
While he the Sinner doth entirely love;
And each Thing needful for the Sinner's Caſe,
Was all into the Covenant of Grace
Concerted 'twixt the Father and the Son,
Which was from all Eternity begun:
So that the Cure for Adam's lapſed State,
Did take its Riſe from an eternal Date.
And now when Adam came to underly
This dire Diſeaſe and deadly Malady,
Mercy the Cure did very ſoon apply.
Ev'n at a Time when Man could nought expect
But divine Vengeance on his Head to break,
The Lord, of whom he juſtly was afraid,
Appeareth firſt in Mercy to his Aid;
Or e'er the Lord againſt the guilty Man
One Word of threatning to bring forth began,
God's Thoughts of Love to Adam forth did break
In heavy Threats againſt the tempting Snake.
When God did promiſe, that the Woman's Seed
Should give a Bruiſe unto the Serpent's Head,
Then this Expreſſion in it did imply,
That wonderful ſtupendous Myſtery,
The ſecond Perſon of the Trinity,
He ſhould for Man thus abject, and forlorn,
Become a Man, and be of Woman born.
Then on the Serpent and his Seed he was
For to revenge his Friends and Brethrens Cauſe;
As Satan he the Woman did employ
The human Race to ruin and deſtroy,
The Use of Woman alſo God doth make
The Prey again from Satan's Hand to take;
So that her Seed might break the Serpent's Pow'r,
Revenge her Wrongs, and what ſhe loſt before.
Yea, this firſt Promiſe did in ſhort contain
The very Substance of the Goſpel Strain;
It was the Dawning of ſweet Gospel Light,
Which in all Ages ſtill did grow more bright.
At length the long expected Time drew nigh.
The Day-ſpring did us viſit from on High,
The promiſed Meſſiah then did come,
Who was conceiv'd within a Virgin's Womb:
And when that Virgin chaſte and undefil'd,
Became a Mother, and brought forth a Child:
To celebrate that great and marv'lous Birth,
The greateſt, yet the meaneſt ſeen on Earth,
From Heav'n a Choir of Angels doth take Wing,
And on the Earth at it exult and ſing;
Aſcribing Praiſe to their Creator's Name,
And Peace on Earth at once they did proclaim.
With great Delight the holy Angels ſhews
To ſinful Men the bleſt and happy News,
And Tidings of a Saviour, which they
In David's City, to them had born this Day.
By Night ſome Shepherds fed their Flocks there, who
The Angels did these Tidings firſt let know;
Unto the Place where Jesus lay, they are
Led and directed to it by a Star,
And when they came, they found the Babe was laid
Into a Manger, as the Angels ſaid.
By Faith and Sight the Shepherds did eſpy
The greatest Meanneſs, greateſt Majeſty,
Meeting at once in Christ's Humility.
The living God who Life to all did give,
Now to himſelf a Life lie doth receive.
The God that was from all Eternity,
In Bethlem doth a ſucking Infant ly
The Heir of all Things, he who doth no leſs
Than Heav'n and Earth, both as his own, poſſeſs,
His Virgin Mother now can nought obtain
But a Horſe Manger for to lay him in;
Yet divine Worſhip unto him was paid,
E'en while he's in this humble Poſture laid:
For through his human Nature there did ſhine
Some Rays that ſhew'd his Perſon was divine,
Which unto ſome appear'd and was reveal'd,
But from the moſt lay hid and quite conceal'd.
He to the Law, tho' he was Lord of it,
Did in each Part obediently ſubmit,
According to the Cuſtom of the Jews,
(As what we ſee the ſacred Scripture ſhews.)
At eight Days old he's circumcis'd, that he
In this conform'd might to his Brethren be.
The Name of JESUS to this Child they gave,
Because from Sin his People he ſhould ſave.
Satan who knew full-well our Saviour had
On Purpoſe come his Kingdom to invade,
As ſoon as he had enter'd on the Stage,
Stir'd up the Pow'rs of Earth at him to rage.
To Egypt ſoon from Herod's Cruelty,
Joſeph and Mary with the Child muſt fly.
There they remain till Herod's Death, and then
The Lord call'd Joſeph, with him, home again.
But when he heard that Archela's did reign
In Herod's Room, and in Judea King,
Then did he turn aſide, when warn'd of God,
And in the Parts of Galilee abode;
Then to that City thither did repair,
Call'd Nazareth, and took his Dwelling there.
And thus it was fulfill'd of him, that he
Stil'd and call'd a Nazarene ſhould be.
And when that he was aged twice ſix Years,
Into the Temple then the Child appears,
Sitting amidſt the Doctors, and the Tribes
Of ancient learned Phariſees and Scribes;
He both did hear their Reaſoning, and then
Some Queſtions he did aſk at them again,
And made the People all amaz'd to hear
His Underſtanding and his Anſwers clear.
Then of his Youth we read but little more,
'Tis almoſt all in Silence paſſed o'er
What he was then employ'd about before.
When he arriv'd at thirty Years of Age,
He then appeared publick on the Stage:
Then he did go among the Multitude
To be baptiz'd with John at Jordan's Flood;
But when the holy undefiled One
Requeſted this of his own Servant John,
The humble Servant as amazed ſtands,
Aſham'd t'obey his Maſter's ſtrange Demands;
I've Need, ſays John, to be baptiz'd of thee,
How is it then thou comeſt unto me?
Then Jesus to him plainly ſignify'd,
That in this Point he muſt not be deny'd,
But that in this he muſt obey his Will,
So that he might all Righteouſneſs fulfill.
Then John did yield to what his Maſter ſaid,
And his Demand he preſently obey'd.
Baptiſm apply'd unto the human Race,
Doth repreſent their miſerable Caſe
By Nature, and their Guilt and Filth by Sin,
Which to the World we have all brought in:
But from what Reaſon doth it then proceed,
Our Saviour this Ordinance ſhould need?
I find ſome Men about it of this Mind,
That think its Reaſons may be thus aſſign'd;
Since Chriſt he was unto the Church the Head
And Repreſentative of th' Elect Seed,
As in all other Things, ſo in this he
Unto the Members must conformed be:
And when that Jesus Baptiſm did receive,
A Virtue to the Ordinance he gave,
Becauſe this Action was done by the Head,
Its Virtue to the Members doth proceed.
So Chriſt being now baptiz'd in Jordan's Stream,
His Elect Seed were all baptiz'd in him.
Whenever he this Ordinance receives,
And cometh up from Jordan's liquid Waves,
Juſt at that Time then divine Pow'r it made
The very Heavens to be opened,
The Holy Ghoſt deſcended from above,
And ſat on Jesus like unto a Dove.
Alſo a Voice there was from Heaven came,
Thus ſaying, my beloved Son, in whom
And for whoſe Sake I fully pleaſed am.
After ſuch ample Approbation given
To Jesus by his Father now from Heaven,
He's led unto the Wilderneſs, that he
There of the Devil try'd and tempt might be.
When he had faſted forty Nights and Days,
The Devil then appears to him, and ſays,
The Son of God, if that indeed thou be,
Convert theſe Stones now into Bread to thee.
But he reply'd unto the wicked One,
'Tis written, Man lives not by Bread alone,
He alſo lives by every Word of Truth
That doth proceed out of Jehovah's Mouth.
Satan in this ſilenced is, but then
He the Aſſault reneweth thus again,
By carrying Jesus to a Mountain high,
Whoſe Top did threaten for to reach the Sky,
And there he ſhews him the whole earthy Frame,
With all the ſhining Glory of the ſame;
All theſe, ſays Satan, I will give to thee,
If that thou wilt fall down and worſhip me.
But Jesus anſwer'd that blaſphemous Fiend,
And ſays to Satan, Get thou me behind;
For it is written. Thou ſhalt worſhip none,
Except it be the Lord thy God alone;
He who all divine Worſhip doth deſerve,
And he it is thou worſhip muſt and ſerve.
Satan in this, altho' he is defeat.
Once more the Combat he reneweth yet;
Satan now hurls our Saviour thro' the Air,
Unto the Temple of Jerus'lem, where
He ſet him on a Pinacle on high:
Then ſays, If God's beloved Son thou be.
To prove the ſame, throw down thyſelf from thence,
And truſt thy Father's Word and Providence;
For it is written in his Word, that he
Will give his Angels Charge concerning thee,
To bear thee up, ſtill waiting thee upon,
Leſt thou ſhould daſh thy Foot againſt a Stone.
But Jesus ſaid, It written is again,
Thou ſhalt not tempt the Lord thy God in vain.
Satan at length obliged is to yield,
And leave our glorious Captain on the Field.
Thus did our ſecond Adam ſtand the Teſt
'Gainſt all that ever Satan did ſuggeſt.
When Christ this Victory over Satan wins,
He then his publick Miniſtry begins.
He now appeareth unto publick View,
And his Commiſſion doth begin to ſhew.
Now in the Temple he begins to teach,
In Deſerts and in Mountains for to preach.
Around he travels, now from Place to Place,
In publiſhing God's Thoughts of Love and Grace,
He had deſign'd unto the human Race.
How many wonderous Miracles he wrought,
Which Confirmation to his Doctrine brought,
From firſt evincing of a Power divine,
In turning of the Water into Wine;
The deaf he made full well to hear, and he,
Thoſe born blind did make moſt clear to ſee.
He cur'd the Fever, Palſy, halt and lame,
Lepers unclean he cleans'd, and cured them.
While ſome by Faith did touch his Garment's Hem,
Which made their bloody Iſſues for to ſtem.
Thoſe that with evil Spirits were poſſeſt,
He did caſt out, and gave the weary Reſt.
The worſt Diſeaſe that Sinners could endure,
Ev'n Death itſelf he by a Word did cure.
He did ev'n by five Barley Loaves of Bread,
And five ſmall Fiſhes, many Thouſands feed.
By Labours, Toils and infinite Diſtreſs,
He did his Love to human Kind expreſs.
In uſeful Labours oft, when ſpent the Day,
He to a Mountain then retir'd to pray;
For of his own he had no Houſe nor Hold,
Where he at Night was ſhelter'd from the Cold:
Foxes had Holes, Birds of Air their Neſt,
The Son of Man no where his Head to reſt,
Or any Part to lodge for him was found,
But what was borrow'd, or the naked Ground.
In outward Straits he needed oft Relief,
Eſtrang'd from Joy, but well acquaint with Grief.
Yet even as his Meat and Drink, it ſtill
To Jesus was, to do his Father's Will.
In teaching, feeding of the Multitude,
He ſpent his Life entirely doing good,
Until the Time appointed did draw nigh,
That Jesus for his People's Sins muſt die.
For Sinners to the Law, there muſt be given
Two Things, before they can be brought to Heav'n.
Law Precepts must be perfectly obey'd,
And then its awful Penalty be paid.
Christ all this in the Covenant of Grace,
Engaged for in th' Elect Sinners Place;
And to this World for this End did he come
To die into the Elect Sinners Room.
He to his own Disciples did let know
The Suff'rings that he had to undergo.
He told them, that he was to die, and then
On the third Day from Death ariſe again.
He told them he muſt then to Heaven aſcend,
The Holy Spirit to them down to ſend.
He told them, when in Heav'n he was, he there
A Place for them in it he ſhould prepare,
He told them, while below they did reſide,
That Tribulation ſhould them ſtill abide:
This to inflict the World ſhould never ceaſe;
Nevertheleſs in him they ſhould have Peace.
That the Memorial of his dying Love,
Comforting ſtill unto his Church might prove,
He inſtituted his laſt Supper then,
His Death to ſhew forth till he come again.
He ſtraight from Supper to the Garden goes,
Where he's aſſaulted by his bloody Foes.
The Time was come, our Saviour muſt engage
The Pow'rs of Hell with all their outmoſt Rage.
Now was the Time the Woman's Seed muſt feel
The Serpent's foreſt bruiſing of his Heel:
And now the Time was when the Woman's Seed
Effectually ſhould bruiſe the Serpent's Head.
Who can expreſs, or yet conceive the Pain
And Grief our Saviour did now ſuſtain!
When Jesus Christ the holy ſinleſs One,
Had for the Sins of Thouſands to atone!
Each one of which had many thouſand Times
Againſt the Law committed Faults and Crimes.
Now when each Sin it doth deſerve God's Wrath,
And to be puniſh'd with eternal Death,
His Suff'rings then muſt needs be exquiſite,
On whom ſo many thouſand Deaths did meet:
For Jesus Christ he had to ſuffer now
The Wrath to a whole elect World was due.
His human Nature ſhrinks with timeleſs Fear,
When all theſe awful Sufferings drew near;
It trembles to behold that dreadful Cup,
Brim-full of Wrath, which he had to drink up.
Three Times he then unto his Father prays,
And to this Purpoſe every Time he ſays,
O Father! if it poſſible may be,
Then let this Cup now paſs away from me;
Nevertheleſs in this thy holy Will,
And not mine own, reſolv'd I'm to fulfil.
The Scripture ſays, that Jeſus now was heard
In that ſame Point wherein he ſo much fear'd.
About which then he pray'd ſo earneſtly,
And was in ſuch a painful Agony.
Into the Garden then his bloody Sweat
Did ſhew his Sufferings great and exquiſite:
From Prayer then, when ever he aroſe,
Away unto his Diſciples he goes;
Whom Grief and Sorrow for their Maſter's Sake,
Made heavy Sleep their Eyes to overtake.
Why do you ſleep? unto them he did ſay,
Leſt ye be tempted, now ariſe and pray.
While he thus ſpake, there comes a bloody Band
With Swords and Staves by the Chief Prieſt's Command,
With Judas the great Traitor on their Head,
For he it was th' unhallowed Mob did lead.
Then Jeſus, who moſt perfectly knew all
The Things that then unto him did befall,
To his rude Foes moſt mildly he did ſpeak,
Unto them ſaid, Who is it that you ſeek?
Jeſus of Nazareth, ſay they, ſeek we.
Jeſus return'd an Anſwer, I am he.
This Word of his, his Foes did ſo confound.
They backward went and fell upon the Ground.
Whom do ye ſeek? again our Saviour ſaith,
They ſaid again Jeſus of Nazareth.
If ye ſeek me, he to them then did ſay,
Let theſe my own Diſciples go away.
What Love is like the Love of Jeſus, who
So much Concern doth for his People ſhow?
The Shepherd good, that he his Sheep might ſave.
His Life a Ranſom for his Sheep he gave,
While thus he interceedeth with the Foe,
That they might let his own Diſciples go,
He for himſelf then not one Word doth ſpeak,
Nor any Favour from his Foes doth ſeek:
And tho' he could juſt by one Word of Wrath,
E'en in one Moment cruſh them all to Death;
Infinite Pow'r yet here moſt tamely ſtands,
Till feeble Creatures bind his Holy Hands;
And being bound, is led away to thoſe
That were his chiefeſt Enemies and Foes:
For of this Sort then did conſiſt the Tribes
Of Prieſts and Elders, Phariſees and Scribes;
A Cloud of whom do now about him meet,
That he ſhould die, they then were all unite.
To Pilate then, without the leaſt delay,
They led our Lord and Saviour away;
Falſe Witneſſes ſpeaking the greateſt Lies,
Did then againſt the God of Truth ariſe:
Then the juſt Judge of all the World, he was
Judg'd and condemn'd by Mens unrighteous Laws.
The Son of God when Jesus he was nam'd;
This Title, tho' that he moſt juſtly claim'd,
The Jews did ſay, that he in this blaſphem'd,
And that to Death for it muſt be condemn'd.
But Pilate, who impreſs'd was with the Senſe
Of Jeſus' pure unſpotted Innocence,
Often declares unto the Jews, that he
Was willing to releaſe and ſet him free:
But there was nothing could appeaſe their Wrath,
Unleſs that Jeſus ſhould be put to Death;
Nor with their Tongues did ever ceaſe, until
Pilate deliver'd Jeſus to their Will.
He ſo was ſcourg'd, that all his Body round,
The laſhing Whip left nothing whole or found.
Then from his furrow'd Shoulders, wounded Sides,
The ſtreaming Crimſon down unpitied glides;
That Head, that Crowns of Glory now adorns,
Then in Contempt was crown'd with piercing Thorns.
They treat him alſo with Scorn and Diſgrace,
They mock and buffet, ſpit into his Face;
Their Knee, in Mock to him, did bow before,
Whom glorious Angels worſhip and adore;
The wicked Rulers with a high Diſdain,
Inſult and glory at his Grief and Pain.
Upon the Croſs he is ſuſpended high,
Between two Thieves he is condemn'd to dy,
As if their Crimes and Villanies accurſt,
Had center'd in him, of the three the worſt;
And now his wicked perſecuting Bands
With Nails do rack, and pierce his Feet and Hands.
Of all the Suff'rings Jesus underwent,
We never read he made ſo much Complaint,
As when his Father from him did reſtrain
His ſweet comforting Countenance, he then
More Senſe of feeling doth begin to ſhew
Than all the Suff'rings that he had gone through.
At this he then this loud Complaint did make,
My God! my God! why doſt thou me forſake?
Whilſt that the God of Nature ſuff'red ſo,
Nature did ſtrange Convulſions undergo;
For three Hours Space the Sun ſuſpends his Light,
And veils the Day with Darkneſs of the Night:
The Earth doth tremble at the horrid Scene,
The flinty Rock aſunder renteth then.
Thus at, and in the Death of Christ, there's been
A glorious Train of heav'nly Wonders ſeen.
Tho' that eternal Suffering was due
To thoſe for whom our Saviour ſuff'red now,
The infinite Value of this Sufferer did
His Suff'ring an infinite Time forbid.
This real Man, who was the mighty God,
He did now ſuffer, and ſuſtain the Load
Of human Guilt, and Heav'n's vindictive Ire,
'Till Juſtice own'd, it could no more require,
And now when Jesus, he who all Things knew,
His Suffering near unto an End then drew.
Aloud, I thirſt! now Jesus he did call,
The which to quench, they brought the bitter Gall;
Which having taſted, then he bowed the Head,
Cry'd out aloud, It now is finiſhed!
The Captain of Salvation then did yield
A Prey to Death, and yet he gain'd the Field.
The Prince of Life into the Grave was laid,
As what before he propheſied and ſaid.
This Step doth end our Saviour's Humiliation,
And now begins his glorious Exaltation;
For the firſt Step he made upon this Head,
Conſiſteth in his riſing from the Dead;
And from the ſame he roſe on the third Day,
And with him brought its very Sting away.
Death had no Captive like to him before,
Nor never Man made it a Captive more;
For Jesus Christ, by dying, did devour
The Strength of Death, and him that had its Pow'r:
And now his riſing from the Dead again,
Makes it abundant evident and plain,
And by this Fact it is now ratified,
That he hath Law and Juſtice ſatiſfied.
Tranſgreſſion he has finiſhed and Sin,
And everlaſting Righteouſneſs brought in:
And by the Suff'rings that he hath endur'd,
Eternal Life is to his Seed procur'd.
And our myſterious Redemption he
Has finiſhed, ev'n unto ſuch Degree,
That after this, as he upon this Score,
Doth never need, ſo ne'er will ſuffer more.
Its Application now to carry on.
He's left the Earth for to aſcend the Throne,
At God's right Hand he now exalted ſits,
And thence the Bleſſings of his Blood tranſmits;
There now he as a Prophet, Prieſt and King,
For ever lives, and ſhall for ever reign:
He now in Heaven, the Church's living Head,
Appears in Name and Room of all his Seed,
Mean time, by his Obedience unto Death,
His Riſing, and Aſcenſion, he hath
Laid down a ſtrong Foundation for the Faith
Of ev'ry Child of Adam for to claim,
And plead for Pardon in a Saviour's Name,
The Goſpel Offer and extenſive Call
Doth give ſufficient Warrant unto all
That hear the ſame, that they may now believe,
And Life thro' Jesus to their Souls receive;
And leaves all thoſe who do the fame refuse,
Still in their Sins, without the leaſt Excuſe.
But ſaving Faith will be by all obtain'd
That are unto eternal Life ordain'd,
And in the Heart will be begotten by
The living Spirit's pow'rful Energy:
By means of which they'll credit the Record
Giv'n in the Word of Jesus Christ the Lord,
And then with greateſt Chearfulneſs embrace
The Riches, Fulneſs, Freedom of his Grace.
Thus to God's Favour Faith doth Man reſtore
On Grounds more ſure than e'er he was before.
The Sum of the Works of Creation.
THis great and artificial Ball
The Lord did build and rear.
Which out of Nothing, at his Call,
He cauſed to appear.
On which engrav'd in every Part,
There doth with Luſtre ſhine
The Builder's Wiſdom, Pow'r and Art,
With Majeſty divine.
FINIS.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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- ↑ Sylveſter