When to extend his fame through heaven and earth, To things not glorious, men not worthy of fame. Large countries, and in fields great battles win, 1 And loses, though but verbal, his reward: Think not so slight of glory; therein least To whom our Saviour fervently replied: " And reason; since his word all things produe'd, Though chiefly not for glory as prime end, But to show forth his goodness, and impart His good communicable to every soul Freely; of whom what could he less expect Than glory and benediction, that is, thanks, The slightest, easiest, readiest recompense From them who could return him nothing else, And, not returning that, would likeliest render Contempt instead, dishonour, obloquy ? Hard recompense, unsuitable return, For so much good, so much beneficence! But why should man seek glory, who of his own Hath nothing, and to whom nothing belongs But condemnation, ignominy, and shame ? Who for so many benefits receiv'd, Turn'd recreant to God, ingrate and false, And so of all true good himself despoil'd; Yet, sacrilegious, to himself would take That which to God alone of right belongs: Yet so much bounty is in God, such grace, That who advance his glory, not ot their own, So spake the Son of God; and here again To it ! 1 htw 13 1 sit upon thy father David's throne, By mother's side thy father; though thy righ Be now in powerful hands, that will not part Easily from possession won with arms: Judea now and all the promis'd land, Reduc'd a province under Roman yoke, Obeys Tiberius; nor is always rul'd With temperate sway; oft have they violated. The temple, oft the law, with foul affronts, Abominations rather, as did once Antiochus: and think'st thou to regain Thy right by sitting still, or thus retiring? So did not Maccabeus: he indeed Retir'd unto the desert, but with arms, And o'er a mighty king so oft prevail'd,d That by strong hand his family obtain'd, [usurp'd, Though priests, the crown, and David's throne With Modin and her suburbs once.contentar If kingdom move thee not, let move thee zeal And duty; and zeal and duty are not slow, But on occasion's forelock watchful wait They themselves rather are occasion best Zeal of thy Father's house, duty to free... Thy country from her Heathen servitude. So shalt thou best fulfil, best verify The prophets old, who sung thy endless reign; The happier reign, the sooner it begins:... Reign then; what canst thou better do the while ?? To whom our Saviour answer thus return'd 1 ! "All things are best fulfill'd in their due time: And time there is for all things, Truth hath said, If of my reign prophetic writ hath told, K Be tried in humble state, and things adverse, By tribulations, injuries, insults, Contempts, and scorns, and snares, and violence Suffering, abstaining, quietly expecting, Without distrust or doubt, that he may know What I can suffer, how obey? Who best Can suffer, best can do; best reign, who first Well hath obey'd; just trial, ere I merit My exaltation without change or end." But what concerns it thee, when I begin My everlasting kingdom ? Why art thou Solicitous? What moves thy inquisition? Know'st thou not that my rising is thy fall, And my promotion will be thy destruction ?" To whom the Tempter, inly rack'd, replied: "Let that come when it comes; all hope is lost Of my reception into grace: what worse? For where no hope is left, is left no fear: If there be worse, the expectation more Of worse torments me than the feeling cana I would be at the worst: worst is my port, My harbour, and my ultimate repose; The end I would attain, my final good.... My error was my error, and my crime... My crime; whatever, for itself condemn'd; And will alike he punish'd, whether thou Reign, or reign not; though Willingly could I fly, and hope thy reign, From that placid aspect and meek regard, Rather than aggravate my evil state, Would stand between me and thy Father's (ire, (Whose ire I dread more than the fire of hell.) to that gentle brow 1 A shelter, and a kind of shading cool But I will bring thee where thou soon shalt quit Thee, of thyself so apt, in regal arts, [took With that (such power was given him then) he The Son of God up to a mountain high. tween Fair champaign with less rivers interven'd, |