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as one obferves, with a monument of primitive theology, a specimen of Gentile piety, an exposition of the book of providence, a great example of patience, an illustrious type of Christ, and a heroic magnanimity in suffering; for, as it has been observed concerning him, he appears brave in distress, and, valiant in affliction; maintains his virtues, and with that his character, under the most exasperating provocations that the malice of hell could invent, and thereby gives a most noble example of passive fortitude; a character no way inferior to that of the active hero,

I have not translated any of this book in a historical, but rather some

parts of it in a doctrinal way. The whole history of this book is set forth in heroic rhyme, to very excellent purpose, by that lofty poet, and eminent author, Sir Richard B'ackmore: from whole Paraphrase on this book, though I have not followed him in every gloss of his upon fome texts, yet I have taken all the help and allift. ance I could in framing many of the songs into common metre; and upon so many parts of this book, that not one chapter is overpast without one or more Songs upon such subjects therein as I judged

most fit to be the matter of spiricual fongs. I did not see how the strict translation of this book, in a historical way,

would answer the end of psalmography ; and therefore, tliat I might extract from it a number of fongs, I have thought fit to pick out the places of this book, that appeared to me to be the most doctrinal, practical, experimental, instructive, or directive. And though I have, no doubt, passed over many places that miglit have afforded most edifying matter, and which I thould wish to see drawn out, to better purpose, by any who have more skill and leasure than I; yet I have more fully infilted upon these chapters towards the end of the book, where God biniself is said to be the spcaker.

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And they

Some of these Songs are by way of translation; and others more para

phrastical and large upon the places quoted at the title.
being a century of long, or an hundred different subjccts at least,
I have thought fit to give titles to every one of them, by which,
I hope, they may be rendered the more agrecable and entifying to
the reader, in fo far as the subject of each fong answers the title
given to it: and readers may, at their pleasure, choose the matter

of meditation that is most acceptable to them.
I do not expect that these Songs Mould deserve to be esteemed for any

poetical genius that may appear therein; seeing, in this respect, I am sensible enough of their defect; but if any think fit to decry them, or their author, for their spiritual matter, or religious design, he will bave little reason to be displeased with them for doing him fo great an honour. It is a great pity that many, who are indued with an excellent genius for poefv, do cccupy it fo little upon divine and fcriptural fubjects, and to much preftitute it to wantonness and fully, which is frequently let off in such a fine dress, that it may be said, I hope, pardonably, in the following lines,

such

Applauded for their vanity,

Are poets of the stage ;
Skill'd in corrupting artfully

The manners of the age.
Who, fond to please the carnal taste,

The sacred art defile,
And fine poetic spirit waste,

On subjects vain and vile.
Have Christian Bards no nobler themes,

To decorate their odes,
Than Jove, Mars, Juno, Venus, names,

And heaps of Pagan gods?
Shall buried idols, known to be

A fiction and a jelt,
Be rais'd to paint our poetry,

And living truths suppress’d!
The learn’d, for helps to poetize,

Who Greeks and Latins rob,
May filch far better, if they please,

From this old book of Job.
Here's matter for the lofty muse;

Examples take at will,
All ye that read and can excuse
The foftness of the quill.

RALPH ERSKINE. wawancarioca

SON G I.
Losses thankfully received. Job i. 21.
Ver. NAKED, at first, as any fwain,
.

,
mother's
And shall anon return again

As naked to my tomb.
Who crown'd my life fo gay, the same

May crush it to the grave :
God gives, and blessed be his name,
He takes but what he

gave.

21

Ver. While smiling mercy crown'd my brow,

Its praise abroad was fpread;
I'll now adore the justice too,

That strikes my comforts dead.

S O N G II. Patience in Tribulation. Job ii. 10. 10 WHAT! Thall a man, a finful man,

with contend;
Dispute his will, his counsel scan,

His rule of justice mend !
Shall we receive his bleflings grand,

Yet frowardly complain,
Whenever his afflicting hand

Creates us any pain !
Patience in trouble, though severe,

We should fubmissive thew;
Bleflings are not, yea, never were,

But troubles are our due.

S O N G III. Repose in obe Grave. Job iii. 17, -19. 17 O Quiet grave, the wicked there

No more the just molelt;
Th' aillicted are at ease, and there

The weary are at rell.
IS There, close to the oppressor's bones,

Sleeps the oppress’d in peace;
And there the pris'ners heavy moans

And cries for ever cease.
19 The small and great, the friend and foe,

The conqu’ror and the flave ;
The rich and poor, the high and low,

Are level'd in the grave.
There lies the sceptre with the spade,

Sunk to the fame degree:
And there the servant-man and maid,

Are from their master free.

Ver. The coward and the brave alike,

The peasant and the peer;
The wife and foolish, proud and meek,

Ly undistinguish'd there.
Soul-rest, to faints, in heav'n is fix'd,

But body's relt, till doom,
Is there, where saints and fingers mix'd
Posless one quiet room.

SONG IV.
The Excellency of Man laid low before God.

Job iv. 17,-21.

SECT. I.
Man mortal and impure. Ver. 17, 18.
17 SHALL mortal man, a tainted clod,

Buait righteousness divine ;
Or think he can his Maker, God,

In purity outshine ?
18 Behold! no trust is put by him,

In yonder glorious race
Of bright immortal seraphim,

That stand before his face.
Of folly comp’rative can he

His purest angels blame,
Who, plung'd in his infinity,

Before him blush for shame?
And shall vain man, in impure ftate,

His innocence defend?
Will he with his Creator great
Presumptuously contend!

SECT. II. Man short-lived and contemptible. Ver. 19, 20, 21. 19 VILE

ILE mortal man, a worthless wight,

Triumphs but for a day;
And but inhabits, for a night,

A house of mould'ring clay.
His strongest lodge, and vital fort,

Is founded in the dust,
Which, quickly falling, cuts him fort,

And disappoints his truft.

Ver. For, but how foon a gnawing worm,

Or filly moth assails,
The rampart cannot stand the storm,

The feeble fabric fails.
20 The fap'd foundation every hour

Thus piece-meal feels decay;
And life ev’n in its blooming flow'r,

Does daily fade away.
So fast men perish out of sight,

Their pomp that shone before,
And once could wonder fond excite,

Can raise regard no more.
21 In vain no pow'r and wealth atchiev'd,

For help at last they cry;
For without wisdom, as they liv’d,
They in their folly die.

SONG V.
Sin ibe Cause of Trouble. Job v. 6,7.
• AFFLICTION (prings not from the earth,

from the
Yet men are heirs of wo by birth;

Sad heritage ! but just.
7
Flames to their element ascend,

So men, conceiv'd in fin,
To trouble as their centre tend,

Like kindred to their kin.
For fin and wo, twins of the clan,

By chance were ne'er convey'd,
But propagate from man to man,

Since Adam disobey'd.

SONG VI.
The Saint's Resolution when in Afriction. Job v. 8.
8
TO,
"O God I'd feek, when in his chain

I'm held, and would submit;
All my own paths I would arraign,

But his I would acquit.