Imatges de pàgina
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LXXVII.

NUMBERS, Chap. XVI.
KORAH's Rebellion.

NOR

TOR yet did Factions in th' Affembly ceafe, For Korah's Arts difturb their fhort-liv'd Of Levi's Sons too manyNames he draws,(Peace: Freedom the Plea, Int'reft and Pride the Caufe: Of heavy Grievances aloud they cry'd, That Mofes Rod did Aaron's Cenfer guide: The Lordly Priefts no longer they'l obey," Mean Inftruments of base Defpotick Sway. Mofes of men the meekeft they upbraid That he'd their Ancient Liberties invade:

With these proud Dathan and Abiram join,
Of fault'ring Reuben's weak and angry Line.
And still they urge their forfeit Right Divine.
To them no Honour, no Preferments fall,
Aaron and Fudah had engrofs'd 'em all:
They for their Birthright ftrive; they Levi hate,
Yet Aid his angry Sons in this Debate.

These in the Sanhedrim of Name and Nore,
And us'd to fway the Houfe of Judgement's Vote;
Whom the dull Crowd implicitly admir'd,
Hung on their Lips, and thought 'en all infpir'd :
The mingled Multitude, that murmur'd still,
FromEgypt crowded on,and fav'd against their will.

LXXVIII.

Dathan and Abiram fwallowed up.

WH

Hen all things now were ripe for mischief
grown,

Korah his Party heads, and leads 'em on:
Before the Altar they embattel'd stand

With each his kindled Cenfer in his Hand:
So far their Arts among the Tribes prevail,
That on their fide the whole Affembly rail:
Mofes and Aaron all deserted, blame,

(They did not fo when they from Egypt came.)
Not one to own, or to defend 'em dares;
Nor did they Numbers need, for God was theirs;
When from the Cloud amazing Splendor broke,
And to his Servants thus Jehova spoke :

"Retire, my Friends,with speed from this devoted . Place,

"And in a moment I'll confume this murm'ringRace,
The injur'd Saints for Mercy proftrate fall,
Shall one offend, and Vengeance seize on all!
They intercede a moment e'r too late,
And ftop the iffuing Word before 'twas Fate.
The Sanhedrim converted with 'em joyn,
They faw th' Appearance of the Pow'r Divine:
To Dathan and Abiram's factious Tent,
So Heav'n commands, they with 'em trembling went.
(Korah and his, to just Destruction doom'd,
The while, are by the Fire of God confum'd.)
When Mofes thus -- If these Offenders fall
The common way that Nature paves for all,
I ask no Faith that I from God am fent;
But if impatient Heav'n their Fates prevent;

LXXVIII

NUMBERS, Chap. XVI. Ver. 19, 21. 22.25.28. to 34.

141

If gaping Earth fhall them alive receive,
I'm no Impoftor; you'll my Words believe.
Nor fooner faid when dire Convulfions heave
The lab'ring Earth-- Behold its furface cleave;
The fecret Realms of Ghofts and Shades display,
And let in Night upon th' invaded Day;

When thro' the horrid Chasm the Traitors go,
And with loud Shrieks they fink, deep, deep to
Hell below,

LXXIX.

Mofes fmites the Rock, and brings forth Water at Meribah.

TH

HE People now in Rekam's Borders stand, Horrid with barren Rocks,and Hills of Sand: Mountains on huge mishapen Mountains pil'd, A Prospect hideous, terrible and wild :

The Pilgrim-Stream which thro' the Defart wide
Following the num'rousHoft their Thirft fupply'd,
Forfakes em here. - Th' Affembly Mofes chide: S

Is this? is this the Canaan we must gain,
For which we travel'd cross the fandy Main,
And with vain Hopes forfook blefs'd Egypt's Fields?
No Figs or Vines th' unhappy Region yields;
No Seeds will on the the barren Surface grow;
Nor from the Rocks refreshing Waters flow.
When from the Cloud th' All-high to Mofes fpake,
The Rod of God agen commands him take;
Then bid the Rock difclose its Secret Store,
And Wat'ry Treasures never known before:
Provok'd, the Prophet his Commiffion breaks,
And for the Rock the harder Crowd befpeaks.

Hear now, ye Rebels! muft ye hence receive Miraculous Streams, nor will ye yet believe? Then fmote the Rock, when from its flinty Womb Tumbling in loud Cascades new Waters come For all the Camp - But ah! how dear they coft! For this the angry Brethren Canaan loft;

Con

LXXIX.

NUMBERS, Chap. XX. from Ver. 1.

to 12.

143

Condemn'd to die in Sight of that blefs'd Land,
For rafhly disobeying Heav'ns Command.

Holy, and Juft, and True! thine Ifrael spare!
Let Levi all unfeemly Warmth forbear!
Like thee their Anger, tho' provok'd reftrain;
So fhall the Meek at length the Heav'nly Canaan
gain.

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