صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

170

So fpake th' Eternal Father, and all Heav'n Admiring flood a space, then into Hymns Burft forth, and in Celestial measures mov'd Circling the Throne and Singing, while the hand Sung with the voice, and this the argument. Victory and Triumph to the Son of God Now entring his great duel, not of arms, But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles. The Father knows the Son; therefore secure Ventures his filial Virtue, though untry'd, Against what e'er may tempt, what e'er feduce, Allure, or terrifie, or undermine,

Be fruftrate all ye ftratagems of Hell,

And devillish machinations come to nought.

175

180

185

So they in Heav'n their Odes and Vigils tun'd: Mean while the Son of God, who yet some days Lodg'd in Bethabara where John baptiz'd, Mufing and much revolving in his breast, How beft the mighty work he might begin Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first Publish his God-like Office now mature, One day forth walk'd alone, the Spirit leading; And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 190 With folitude, till far from track of men, Thought following though:, and ftep by step led on, He entred now the bordering defart wild, And with dark fhades and rocks environ'd round, His holy meditation thus purfu'd.

O what a multitude of thoughts at once Awaken'd in me fwarm, while I confider

[ocr errors]

195

200

What from within I feel my self, and hear,
What from without comes often to my ears,
Ill forting with my present ftare compar❜d.
When I was yet a Child, no childish play
To me was pleasing, all my mind was: fet
Serious to learn and know, and thence to do
What might be publick good; my self I thought
Born to that end, born to promote all truth, 205
All righteous things: therefore above my years,
The Law of God I read and found it fweet,
Made it my whole delight, and in it grew
To fuch perfection, that ere yet my age
Had measur'd twice fix years, at our great Feaft 210
I went into the Temple, there to hear
The Teachers of our Law, and to propofe
What might improve my knowledge or their own;
And was admir'd by all, yet this not all
To which my Spirit aspir'd, victorious deeds
Flam'd in my heart, heroic acts, one while
To refcue Ifrael from the Raman Yoke,
Then to fubdue and quel o'er all the earth
Brute violence and proud Tyrannick pow'r,
Till truth were freed, and equity reftor'd:
Yet held it more humane, more heav'nly, first
By winning words to conquer willing hearts,
And make perfwafion do the work of fears
At least to try, and teach the erring Soul
Not wilfully mif-doing, but unaware
Mif-led; the ftubborn only to destroy.

235

220

225

These growing thoughts my Mother foon perceiving

230

By words at times caft forth inly rejoyc❜d,
And said to me apart, High are thy thoughts
O Son, but nourish them and let thèm foar
To what heighth facred virtué and true worth
Can raise them, though above example high;
By matchlefs Deeds exprefs thy matchlefs Sire.
For know, thou art no Son of mortal man,
Though men efteem thee low of Parentage, 235
Thy Father is th' Eternal King who rules

All Heav'n and Earth, Angels and Sons of men,
A messenger from God fore-told thy Birth
Conceiv'd in me a Virgin, he foretold

Thou should't be great and fit on David's Throne, And of thy kingdom there fhall be no end. 241 At thy Nativity a glorious Quire

Of Angels in the fields of Bethlehem fung

To Shepherds watching at their folds by night,
And told them the Meffiah now was born,

245

Where they might fee him, and to thee they came;
Directed to the Manger where thou lay'ft,
For in the Inn was left no better room:

A Star, not feen before in Heav'n appearing
Guided the Wife Men thither from the Eaft, 250
To honour thee with Incenfe, Myrrh, and Gold,
By whose bright courfe led on they found the place,
Affirming it thy Star new grav'n in Heav'n,
By which they knew the King of Ifrael botn.
Juft Simeon and Prophetick Anna, warn’d
By Vifion found thee in the Temple, and fpake
Before the Altar and the vested Prieft,

255

261

Like things of thee to all that prefent ftood:
This having heard, ftraight I again revolv'd
The Law and Prophets, searching what was writ
Concerning the Meffiah, to our Scribes
Known partly, and foon found of whom they fpake
am; this chiefly, that my way must lie
Through many a hard affay even to the death,
Ere I the promis'd Kingdom can attain, 265
Or work Redemption for mankind, whose fins
Full weight must be transferr'd upon my head:
Yet neither thus difhearten'd or difmay'd,
The time perfix'd I waited, when behold

The Baptift (of whofe birth I oft had heard, 270
Not knew by fight) now come, who was to come
Before Meffiah and his way prepare.

I as all others to his Baptism came,

Which I believ'd was from above; but he

Straight knew me, and with loudeft voice proclaim'd
Me him (for it was fhew'n him fo from Heav'n) 276
Me him whofe Harbinger he was; and first
Refus'd on me his Baptifm to confer,

280

As much his greater, and was hardly won:
But as I rofe out of the laving ftream,
Heav'n open'd her eternal doors, from whence
The Spirit defcended on me like a Dove,
And last the fum of all, my Father's voice,
Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his,
Me his beloved Son, in whom alone

285

He was well pleas'd; by which I knew the time Now full, that I no more should live obfcure,

But openly begin, as best becomes
The Authority which I deriv'd from Heav'n.
And now by fome strong motion I am led
Into this Wilderness, to what intent

290

295

300

I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know;
For what concerns my knowledge God reveals.
So fpake our Morning Star, then in his rise,
And looking round on every fide beheld
A pathlefs Defart, dusk with horrid fhades;
The way he came not having mark'd, return
Was difficult, by humane fteps untrod;
And he still on was led, but with fuch thoughts
Accompanied of things paft and to come
Lodg'd in his breast, as well might recommend
Such Solitude before choiceft Society.
Full forty days he pafs'd, whether on hill
Sometimes, anon in fhady vale, each night
Under the covert of fome ancient Oak,
Or Cedar, to defend him from the dew,
Or harbour'd in one Cave, is not reveal'd;
No: tafted humane food, nor hunger felt
Till those days ended, hunger'd then at laft
Among wild Beafts: they at his fight grew mild,
Nor fleeping him nor waking harm'd, his walk 311
The fiery Serpent fled, and noxious Worm,
The Lion and fierce Tiger glar'd aloof.

But now an aged man in Rural weeds,

305

Following, as feem'd, the quest of some stray Ewe,3 15 Or wither'd sticks to gather; which might ferve Against a Winters day when winds blow keen,

« السابقةمتابعة »