in unto

XLVIII. Mofes and Aaron Pharaoh. He refuses to let Ifrael go, and increases their Oppreffion.

IS Pow'rs receiv'd, he Heav'ns dread Envoy
goes

His Friends to refcue, and confound their Foes,
Great Aaron in th' Auguft Commiffion joyn'd,
The future Ephod to adorn, defign'd.
Undaunted they to Pharaoh's Court repair,
And Audience gain'd, their Embaffy declare,
From God, the Lord of Hofts, who all things made,
From Ifrael's God they come, and thus they said:
Difmifs my People who my Name confess,
To Sacrifice in Etham's Wilderness.

}

When thus the haughry Tyrant from his Throne?
Can any God be in my Realms unknown?
Who is the Lord, that I refpect fhou'd pay
To his Commands? I'll not his Words obey.
Have Hebrews nothing else to do but Pray?
Other Employ I'll find -- Impoftors go,
Or you the weight of Royal Hands fhall know.
Guards - See that ftricterCare their Masters take!
Of Bricks their wonted Number fee they make!
Diminish nought, but let no Straw be giv'n:
They're Idle, and wou'd fain go play with Heav'n.
He faid, his ready Minifters obey:

Thro' all the Land for Straw the Hebrews ftray;
With this their Time confum'd,their Tale was lefs,"
Remorfelefs Stripes their Officers opprefs,
To Pharaoh they complain but no Redress.
They the Great Brethren met, and them accus'd,
Their Words had but their eafie Faith abus'd.
Their Meflage false, their Promises in vain,
And only added Weight to their inglorious Chain.

XLVIII.

XLVIII.

EXODUS, Chap. V. from Ver. 1. to 21.

85

v. 1. Mofes and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, thus faith the Lord God of Ifrael, let my people go, that they may hold a feaft unto me in the wilderness, &c. 6. And Pharaoh commanded faying,

7. Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather ftraw for themselves.

8. And the tale of the bricks which they did make beretofore, you shall lay upon them; you shall not diminifh ought thereof for they are idle; therefore they cry, Saying, Let us go and facrifice to our God.

XLIX.

God encourages Mofes. He goes agen to Pharaoh. His Rod becomes a Serpent, and (wallows up the Rods of the Sorcerers.

Mpatient Man in troubles will not stay w

For his Relief, till Heav'n can find the way:

Joy oft is near when we of Joy despair,

A Storm fucceeds a Calm, and Thunder clears the
Air,

Ev'n doubtful Mofes felf confefs'd the Man,
When thus to him his Fathers God began.

I AM, I WAS, and ftill fhall be the fame,
Th' Immutable Jehovah is my Name:

A God to Pharaoh Thou, as I to thee;
Thou mine, and Aaron fhall thy Prophet be.
With Plagues on Plagues I'll harden'd Fgypt (courge,
Till they themselves your wish'd Departure urge.
But first with Wonders I'll your miffion fign,
Their Sence compell'd to own a Pow'r divine:
That Rod thou bear'ft, when on the Marble thrown
Before their Eyes a crested Serpent grown :
Encourag'd they agen to Pharaoh goe,

And on the ground their wondrous Rod they throw,
Which in an inftant did a Snake become,

Whofe bloody Eyes fhot Flames around the Room:

The

The harden'd Tyrant calls, his Charmers came,
And by their bellif Magic did the same :
But th' active Hebrew Serpent theirs pursues,

Breaks their ftrong Backs, and does their Charms unloose:

By Heav'n commiffion'd with Superior Pow'rs,
Seizes on all the reft, and them devours:

Then glides a harmless Worm around the Room,
And does in Aaron's Hand its wonted Form refume

EXODUS, Chap. V. Ver. 22. VI. 2 3.

VII. 1. to 12.

Chap. vi. 2. God spake unto Moses, and said unto bim, I am the Lord:

3. And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Ifaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehova was I not known to them, &c.

Chap. vii. 10. Mofes and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron caft down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his fervants, and it became a ferpent.

11. Then Pharaoh called the wifemen, and the forcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they alfo did in like manner with their inchantments.

12. For they caft down every man his rod, and they became ferpents: but Aarons rod Swallowed up their rods, &c.

L.

The Waters turned into Blood. Frogs are fent.

Gypt their helpless Gods in vain may pray,
Their helpless Gods are plagu'd as much as
they.

Ev'n Nile, their Jove, if whofe rich Streams o'rflow
No Thanks th' Ungrateful think to Heav'n they ow,
Stagnates,and stinks,and all its fev'n-mouth'd Flood,
Direful Portent! rolls with a Sea of Blood:
Satiate with what they did so long defire
The cruel Natives now for Thirst expire:
Nor this alone; what e'r in Myftic Stile:
They dream of Creatures from the Slime of Nile,
See now its animated Waters roll,

And every Drop fwell with imperfect Soul! Myriades of Frogs from thence at Heaven's command

March from the River, and invade the Land:
For Nature's flow Production will not stay,
Born in a Moment, perfect in a Day.

To Pharaoh's Court they prefs,and flight his Guard;
Like factiousCrowds they fwarm,and will be heard:
Importunate, as hungry Courtiers, grown,

His Levee wait, and croak around the Throne;
On his Rich Beds their flimy Members place,
"A Luxury unknown before to all their watry
Race,

L: