Ver. Go

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S O N G LI.
God infinitely above us; not accountable 80 us; yet
merciful, both in biding what be bides, and re-
vealing what be reveals. Job xxxiii. 12,-18.
LOD's sov'reign ways to scoff or scan,

Shall worthless creatures dare?
Shall the most High, O wretched man!

Be summon'd to thy bar ?
13 Wilt thou with him that gave thee breath,

Engage in hot dispute ?
Or, quarreling his unseen path,

Wouldst thou thy God confute ?
Presumptuous mortal bold, wilt thou

Thyself with him compare?
Shall to a worm Jehovah bow,

His conduct to declare?
To ask the reason of his ways,

Audacious is and rude ;
Th’Almighty's deeds, because they're his,

Are therefore just and good.
Where shallow reafon never could

The deep immense discern
Of providence divine, it should

With due fubmiffion learn.
Not that he grudges man the views,

Of what difcern'd can be ;
His kind Creator to him shews

More than his eyes can see.
Our knowledge therefore never can

Raise in his breast envy,
When more is shown than filly man

Is capable to spy.
14 Once and again, to form the mind,

God does instruction give ;
More than reluctant man's inclin'd,

Or willing to receive.
15 In dreams and visions of the night,

In plumbers of the bed,
And in deep sleep, celestial light
Hath been at tims convey'd.

Ver. He various ways reveals his will
16 To man, and leaves behind
Instructions, touching good and ill,

Imprinted on the mind.
But our great Teacher's light will not

The mystic clouds dispell,
That keep his hidden paths remote,

And on his conduct dwell.
By's teachings must be understood,

He rather does devise
To make man, to his profit, good,

Than, to his peril, wise.
17 That from his finful purposes,

Man may be drawn aside,
And humbly made, with will submiss,

To mortify his pride.
18.And thus his life and foul the Lord

Saves from destruction's path;
And from the dire menacing sword

Of God's avenging wrath.

SONG LII. The Patient described in Extremity, and seasonably relieved by tbe great Ransomer.

Job xxxiii. 19,—30.

SECT. I.

Sickness come to an Extremity: Or, a fick Man

brought to tbe Gates of Dearb.

Ver. 19,--22.

19 IN mercy does the mighty God,

Man for his fins chastise,
When he, l'instruct him by the rod,

Diffurbs his bed of eafe.
Sore ficknesses, God's host array'd,

The firongest man affail;
Sharp pains his num'rous bones invade,

And o'er their firength prevail.

20

Ver. Hid poison does his vigour walte,

His foul abhors the fight
Of curious meats, which once his taste

Did relish with delight.
21 He who before, in blooning pride,

Could boast a graceful air :
And pamper'd at his ease, abide

In figure, plump and fair.
Does now, by an amazing change,

His neighbours all surprise,
And pale lean cheeks, and staring strange

With ghastly hollow eyes.
His weary bones, a horrid fight!

All starting through the skin,
Which lay before, both day and night,

In flesh and fat unseen.
2ż His throbbing heart, with grief fubdu'd,

In pain and labour beats ;
And life expiring, clote pursu'd

Through every vein, retreats.
On-lookers think each gasp, or breath,

Will end the doleful fray;
And killing harbingers of death

Stand ready for the prey.

SECT. II.

Tbe Faithful Soul-physicion on insirument of bring

ing back tbe fick Patient from the Gates of Deatb: Or, the Gospel Remedy skilfully applied, and CHRIST ibe only Ransom. Ver. 23,

-30.
23 If then a messenger attend,

That knows the voice of God,
And does, with prudence, apprehend

The errand of the rod;
Who, for a Soul-physician known,

Ftom heaven liis message bears :
Such an Interpreter is one

Among a thousand leers;

Ver. Who skill'd to deal in deep distress,

With finners and with saints;
To shew to man his uprightness,

He neither hath or wants ;
Who, having wisdom to be mild,

Or tart, as cases crave,
Exhibits comfort to the child,

Conviction to the slave ;
Instructs the patient how to bear

The most afflictive rod
With foul-submiss, and still to clear

The righteousness of God;
That he no quarrel, in his breast,

May 'gainst his Maker lodge,
But for his fins himself arrest,

And justify his Judge :
If thus the person, sick to death,

Receive instruction just,
And, owning fin's defert of wrath,

Be humbled to the dust;
Humbled to own his scores of vice,

And charges undefray'd;
And humbled to accept the price,

Was by the Surety paid :
24 Then God, most ready to acquit,

Says, “ Save the captive bound
“ From going down into the pit,

“ I have the ransom found.
" What I have found he judges good,

6. And so it is to me ;
“ The ransom is my darling's blood,

“ Go set the captive free.”
25 Then quick deliv'rance oft is wrought,

The patient is niade whole ; 26 To health and strength his body brought,

To peace and joy his soul. 28 Soon as he does his wrongs confess,

And choose the way that's right, 30 His God exalts him to the bliss

Of lasting life and light.

WHEN

10

SONG LIII.
God cannot be cbarged with Injustice ; and, being om.

nipotent, be cannot be unjust. Job xxxiv. 10,- 15. Ver. THEN finners feel the chall’ning rod,

Unjuftly they complain :
Shall man the righteousness of God

Presumptuously arraign?
Far be't from God's imperial throne,

To practise wickedness :
Can th' infinitely holy One

The rules of right transgress? 11 Justice divine, with wages meet,

The work of men repays,
And will each son of Adam treat

According to his ways.
12 Yea, sure, as he is God upright,

He'll act no wicked part ;
And sure, as he's the God of might,

He judgment won't pervert.
For who of fraud, or violence,

Dare God most high indite,
Whole wisdom and omnipotence

Does guide all nature right?
Can any higher being be,

Whose laws he should observe,
Or pow'r superior in degree,

From truth to make him swerve?
'Tis certain, therefore, he in whoni

Perfections all abound,
Whole pow'r no pow'r can overcome,

With justice must be crown'd.
His mind, to which no stain adheres,

Shines ever pure and bright:
No maculating spot appears

In uncreated light.
13 He who is fou'reign Lord of all,

Can inj'ry do to none;
Whate'er he takes, how great or small,
He but refumes his own.