Ver. If, to thy pray'r, heart-pureness cleave, Thy profp'rous ftate he would retrieve, 7 Though thy beginning, fmall and low, Thy latter end fhall not be fo, But have an increase great. Time and Life fhort. Job viii. 9. 9 WE'RE but of yesterday's new mold, II Our life's of no regard, When with our long-liv'd fathers old No knowledge nor experience we Our days like fhadows are that flee, No fooner had, than loft. The Hope of the Hypocrite vain and vanishing. JUST Job viii. 11,-14. UST as a weak and empty rufh,, With hafty growth and eafy pufh, 12 In moisture rich, in verdure gay, 'Yet on a fudden wears away Ere other plants are grown. 13 So fhall the wicked's beauty fade, 14 His fwelling hopes, ere he's aware, His groundiefs truft is weaker far Ver. He on his tott'ring houfe fhall lean, Which, finking foon, fhall fail him clean, SONG XIV. GOD juft in judging. Job ix. 2, 3, 4. WHEN HEN juftice, out of mercy's rod, 3 Once to contend, if God begins, 4 He's wife in heart, and ftrong in might, SONG XV. The Righteoufnefs of Words difcarded. Job ix. 15. 20, 21. OD's eyes efpy our aims afar, 15 GOD And, to his clearer fight, These very ways moft crooked are, zo Should I my innocence aver, 21 My mouth would brand my face; + Gg Ver. I The afflicted Soul's Complaint to GOD. THE HE conftant woes that load my back, My prefent life's a very black Uncomfortable state. My reflefs weary foul abhors And wings to heav'n her way. 2 I make to God my heavy moan, To give my forrow vent; But yet upon myself alone I'll leave my fad complaint. 14 If I be wicked in thine eyes, SONG XVII. GOD's Wisdom unfearchable. Job xi. 7, 8, 9. 7 CAN human reafon's utmost stretch, Her arms fo far extend, As fhall th' Eternal's counfel reach, 8,9 What creature can, with finite hand, 'Tis longer than the earth or land, Ver. Higher than heav'n, what canft thou know, Deeper then hell, what canft thou do, SONG XVIII. That GOD may fuffer the wicked to profper, exemplified in Beafts, Birds, and Fishes; and this refolved into bis abfolute Dominion over, and Propriety in all bis Creatures. Job xii. 6,-10. AR FFLICTIONS great are of the juft, While wicked men, that lick the duft, Robbers and spoilers fee their stock 7 Afk now the beafts, and trial make, How bears, wolves, monfters of the wood, That ravage and destroy, Yet peace and pow'r enjoy. While harmlefs flocks, on hills that browse, And useful herds, each way, To men their friends, or beafts their foes, Are daily made a prey. Afk of the fowls aloft that flee, For anfwer they'll return, That they, conform to their degree, Ver. They will affert their vultures rude, 8 And tyrants live fecure; While doves and birds of mildeft brood, A thoufand woes endure. Then afk the fifhes what's their flate, Great whales, fea-tyrants, drunk with blood, Whole fhoals of harmlefs fifh. 9 This ftate of things fram'd he, whose pow'r Whofe wifdom too, in ord'ring fure, 10 God's creatures are his own, their lives SONG XIX. Doctrine to be tried ere it be trufted. Job xii. 11. 11 THE ear tries words before they be II Receiv'd as true and good; The mouth taftes meat ere ever we By grace's inward guft; SONG XX. The Wisdom of antient Men nothing to the Wisdom of the Antient of Days. Job xii. 12, 13. 12 THOUGH wifdem oft, we are assur'd, In hoary heads appears, And understanding is matur'd By time and num'rous years: |