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SONG XXXIV.

Rafh Judging condemned; or, Job's Warning to bis cenforious Friends. Job xix. 28, 29.

Ver. Friends! your groundless rage suppress,
The wrath of man is proud,

28

And worketh not the righteoufnefs,
But brings the wrath of God.

Rafh judging him in whom is found
The facred matter's root,

Your darts will on yourselves rebound,
To 'venge the wrong purfuit.
29 Of justice' fword ftand 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 faft,
In which the Judge fupreme,
Will all your bloody cenfures cast,
Your bitter words condemn.
Repent, then, left your violence
Bring prefent judgments home;
Elfe will your proud impenitence
Foretel your future doom.

SONG XXXV.

The Profperity of the wicked short, and their Ruin fure. Job xx. 5,—9. 11,—14.

5 THE

HE wicked's triumph is but fhort,
And quickly melts away;

His empty joy, and idle fport,

Does but a moment' stay.

6 Though to the heav'n his head he raife,
His grandeur to the sky;

Yet, loft, for ay, he and his praise,
Cloath'd in the dust shall ly.

Fades with a swift decay;

Ver. He, miferable and forlorn,

7

Caft, like his own vile dung, with scorn,

And with contempt, away.

These who his fplendor did admire,
And faw his pomp before,

And, where is now his place! enquire,
Shall never fee it more.

8 His fhort-liv'd fame and great esteem,
That gull'd him all his days,
Shall vanifh like a wanton dream,
That in the fancy plays.

Yea, he fhall by a fudden bane
Be chas'd away with fright,
In manner like a fantom vain,
Or vifion of the night.

9 His blazing lamp fhall disappear,
So fhall he perifh 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! fhall unto him
As faithfully adhere.

12 For guilty marks, and enfigns bad,
Of his unbridled luft,

13 Continue his companions fad, And fellows in the duft.

*14 Thefe morfels sweet shall bitter grow, Confume his vital breath,

And follow him, with dool and wo,

To th' other fide of death.

SONG XXXVI.

The Wicked hardened in their Impiety by their Profperity. Job xxi. 7,-15.

FT do we fee the wicked fafe,

7 OFT

And unmolefted dwell;

Oft do they flow in pleafure foft,

And in their wealth excel.

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 afcend;

and pride

Repeat their conquefts, 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 fecure;

Nor God's vindictive heavy blows
Do ever they endure.

10 Their profp'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 houfe 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 chearful found,
Rejoice and pass the day.

13 Pamper'd in ease, and mirth, and wealth,
They spend their golden hours;
Confume their time, abuse their health,
And waste their vital pow'rs.

By years, and not by fickness, they

At laft their fhoulders 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 faints, 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 ferve him deign?

Some pray and praife, but don't we fee
They fpend their breath in vain?

Thus wicked men, whom Heav'n does load
With earthly happiness,

Their native fpite against their God

Profanely does exprefs.

SONG XXXVII.

GOD's Way of Providence towards Men attended with great Variety. Job. xxi. 17,-26.

17 SOMETIMES deftruction, impious men

Ev'n in this world invades ;

Though oft their lamp of life's burnt out,
Before their glory fades.

God's fatal judgments for their crimes,
Oft foon their life confume;

Amidst their pomp, there's but a step
Betwixt them and their doom.

18 Oft with his driving wrath he's pleas'd
From off the earth to chafe,
As chaff before the ftormy 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 fteps,
Shall fuffer for their crimes;
And they themselves oft live to fee
Thefe very difmal times.

10 Their curfed lips fhall deeply drink,
Of God's embitter'd bowl;

Their haughty eyes fhall downward fink,
And in deftruction roll.

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Ver. Ah, then! what comfort to them fhall

12

Their race furviving raise,

When in the middle, after all,

Grim death cuts off their days!
On the reverse, fometimes the just
May profper, though 'tis plain
Their lot and ordinary fate

Is trouble, want, and pain.

22 Yet who will thence against the ways
Of God moft high object?

To guide, govern, and rule the world,
Who fhall his hands direct?

Does not the great omnifcient God
All things diftinctly know?
For he's the Judge of faints above,
The Judge of kings below.

Who then to teach him wisdom will
Adventure or pretend?

And clearly fhow him how, with skill,
His government to mend ?

23 One dies in his full ftrength 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 anguifh lies;

Long griev'd and gall'd with heavy chains,

In ling'ring fickness dies.

26 Both these at last the friendly grave
Will bring to equal reft;

And on their flefh, within the cave,
The worms alike fhall feast.

Promifcuous tribulations thus
All human kind invade;
And death, without diftinction, does

Befal both good and bad.

No difpenfation of this fort

Does ever take its rife,

From one man's virtuous effort,

Or from another's vice.

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