XVI.

Ifaac born: Hagar and Ishmael caft forth. God comforts them.

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HO' Heav'n a while delays, it can't deceive, And those are not impatient, who believe: An Hundred rolling years without an Heir, Had Abraham pafs'd but wou'd not yet defpair; At length the welcome promis'd Blessing came, A Son is born, and Ifaac is his name :

Beyond her Hopes the joyful Sarah bless'd, 2

To see the smiling Infant at her Breast.

Which when he now forfook, a splendid Feast
For all his cheerful Friends the Patriarch made,
And Victims on the fmoaking Altars laid,
Doubly a Father double Thanks he pay'd.
But mortal joys are unfincere and vain,
And all our Pleasure soon allay'd with Pain:
Ishmael with Scoffs infults th' intruding Heir,
Nor Sarah, haughty Sarah this cou'd bear;
Hence with the Slaves, the faid, let both away,
Nor fhall they to affront my Ifaac ftay.
Agen fad Hagar wanders thro' the wild,
Loaden with Grief, and with her exil'd Child:
The Water now was spent the with her bore,
And in the thirsty Sands what Hopes of more?

Her

Her Tears the only moisture to supply
Her fainting Son, tho' ev'n her Eyes grew dry
Parch'd and exhauft; nor cou'd fhe fee him die:
One Kifs fhe gave, that Kiss she thought her last;
And then beneath a Bush the Child she cast:
With much of Pain he rais'd his fainting Eyes,
And for his Mother calls with feeble cries.
That boundless Pity who does all furvey,
Who not disdains to aid our mortal Clay,
Tho' Angels serve him, saw their deep distress,
Nor unregarding faw, but did redress.

He bids the mournful Mother ceafe her Fears,
For God had heard his Voice, had heard her Tears.
Arife, faid he, agen thy Ishmael take:

Of Ishmael I'll a mighty Nation make.

When near her she a Crystal Well perceives,
And with recruited Stores herself and Him relieves.

GENESIS, Chap. XXI. Ver. 2. 3.

2. Sarah bare a fon at the fet time of which God bad Spoken.

3. And Abraham called the name of his son, wherri Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

XVII. Abraham commanded to offer Ifaac. An Angel ftays his Hand.

ND now to Abraham thus th' Almighty spake, Thy Son, thine only Son, thine Ifaac take, And where Moriahs craggy Mountains rise The Youth to him that gave him, facrifice.

Nor did the Friend of God difpute or stay; He knew 'twas Heaven's to order, his t' obey: Who gave him, cou'd perform the Words he faid, Who bid him die cou'd raife him from the Dead.

Scarce had the Sun forfook th' Eöan Main And chas'd the Shades o'r fcorch'd Arabia's Plain, When Abraham, yet a Father, leaves his Tent, And to the Place with his lov'd Ifaac went : The thoughtful Father bore the Knife and Fire, His Son the Wood, who thus accofts his Sire:

Nor Wood, nor Fire, for Sacrifice we need, But where's the Lamb muft on the Altar bleed? Unmov'd the faithful Patriarch thus reply'd, 'Tis God who fends and he'll the Lamb provide. And now the Victim's on the Altar bound The Father's Hand is rais'd to give the fatal Wound: O Piety! O Nature! Why fo flow, Ye Angels, to divert the falling Blow!

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At length 'tis done; at length by Heavn's comA willing Watcher flies, and ftops his Hand: When from the Throne a voice like Thunder broke And to the Patriarch thus th' Almighty spoke.

"Enough, my Friend! enough thy Piety is shown: "Thy matchleis Faith fhall be to after-Ages known: "I by my felt have fworn thy num'rous Seed I'll blefs, The gates of thole that hate them shall thy Seed poffefs: "The Saviour of the World fhall from thy Stockarile T'atone his Father's Wrath a willing Sacrifice.

XVII.

GENESIS, Chap. XXII. Ver. 1. to 3. 6. to 12. 16. to 18.

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v. 2. God faid, take thy sen Isaac, and offer him for a burnt offering.

6. Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his fon; and be took the fire in bis band, and a knife: and they went both of them together.

9. And laid the wood in order; and bound Isaac bis fon, and laid him on the altar upon the wood, &c.

XVIII.

Abraham fends his Servant to take a Wife for his Son Ifaac.

H

Oary with Age the Patriarch now appears,
And bends beneath a Century of Years:

Concern'd for his reftor'd miraculous Son,

His faithful Servant call'd, he thus begun.

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Swear, Swear, faid he,by him who rules the Sky, Who made this Earth, and yon bright Orbs on high, Thou'lt not thy Mafter's Family disgrace,

Nor match my Son to Canaans hated Race;
But back to Aramaan Fields repair,

And from my Kindred chufe his Confort there:
Attent the Servant hears, to all he yields,
And speeds away for Padans diftant Fields:
Nor empty he nor unattended goes,

But Ten fair Camels of his Masters chose,
With Spice and Gold, which both th' Arabia's blefs'd,
And all the various Treafures of the East.

(Scarce wealthier Caravans in after-Days
Shall Ishmaels Sons to their Impoftors Tomb,
Or from th' Armuzian Gulf, and Perfia's fhores,
Or old Damafcus, earthly Paradife,

In fafety Pilot o'r the fandy Main.)

3 And now the Sun with faint declining Beams
Strikes the tall Hills, and gilds the Crystal Streams;
Arriv'd, the pious Trav'ler kneel'd and pray'd,
Nor long before he faw the charming Maid,
Whom for his Mafter's Bofom Heav'n defign'd:
The Meffage done his aged Lord enjoyn'd,
He gains the Virgin's, and her Friends confent,
And foon rejoicing home with his fair Charge he

went.

XVIII.