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النشر الإلكتروني

THE

SECOND BOOK

O F

PARADISE

REGAI N'D.

D

PARADISE

REGAI N'D.

BOOK II.

EAN while the new-baptiz'd, who yet remain'd

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At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen

Him whom they heard so late exprefly call'd
Jefus Meffiah Son of God declar'd,

And on that high authority had believ'd,

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And with him talk'd, and with him lodg'd, I mean
Andrew and Simon, famous after known,
With others though in holy writ not nam'd,
Now miffing him their joy fo lately found,
So lately found, and so abruptly gone,
Began to doubt, and doubted many days,
And as the days increas'd, increas'd their doubt:
Sometimes they thought he might be only shown,
And for a time caught up to God, as once
Mofes was in the mount, and miffing long; 15
And the great Thisbite, who on fiery wheels
Rode up to Heav'n, yet once again to come.
Therefore as those young prophets then with care
Sought

D 2

Sought loft Elijah, fo in each place these
Nigh to Bethabara; in Jericho

The city' of Palms, AEnon, and Salem old,
Macharus, and each town or city wall'd
On this fide the broad lake Genezaret,
Or in Peræa; but return'd in vain.

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Then on the bank of Jordan, by a creek,
Where winds with reeds and ofiers whisp'ring play,
Plain fishermen, no greater men them call,
Close in a cottage low together got,

Their unexpected loss and plaints out breath'd.
Alas, from what high hope to what relapfe 30
Unlook'd for are we fall'n! our eyes beheld
Meffiah certainly now come, so long
Expected of our fathers; we have heard

His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth;
Now, now, for fure, deliverance is at hand,
The kingdom fhall to Ifrael be restor'd:
Thus we rejoic'd, but foon our joy is turn'd
Into perplexity and new amaze:

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For whither is he gone, what accident

Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire
After appearance, and again prolong

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Our expectation? God of Ifraël,

Send thy Meffiah forth, the time is come;
Behold the kings of th' earth how they oppress
Thy chofen, to what highth their pow'r unjuft 45
They have exalted, and behind them caft

All

All fear of thee; arise and vindicate

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Thy glory, free thy people from their yoke.
But let us wait; thus far he hath perform'd,
Sent his Anointed, and to us reveal'd him,
By his great Prophet, pointed at and shown
In public, and with him we have convers'd;
Let us be glad of this, and all our fears
Lay on his providence; he will not fail,
Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall, 55
Mock us with his bleft fight, then snatch him hence-;
Soon we shall see our hope, our joy return.

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pure,

Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume To find whom at the first they found unfought: But to his mother Mary, when she saw Others return'd from baptism, not her son, Nor left at Jordan, tidings of him none, Within her breast though calm, her breast tho'p Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd Some troubled thoughts, which she in fighs thus clad. O what avails me now that honor high To have conceiv'd of God, or that falute Hail highly favor'd, among women bleft! While I to forrows am no less advanc'd, And fears as eminent, above the lot Of other women, by the birth I bore,

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In such a season born when scarce a fhed

Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me

From the bleak air; a stable was our warmth,

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