SONG LI.

GOD infinitely above us; not accountable to us; yet merciful, both in biding what be bides, and revealing what be reveals. Job xxxiii. 12,-18.

Ver. GOD's fov'reign ways to fcoff or scan,

12

Shall worthlefs creatures dare?

Shall the most High, O wretched man!
Be fummon'd to thy bar?

13 Wilt thou with him that gave thee breath,
Engage in hot difpute?

Or, quarreling his unfeen path,
Wouldst thou thy God confute?
Prefumptuous mortal bold, wilt thou
Thyfelf with him compare?
Shall to a worm Jehovah bow,
His conduct to declare?

To afk the reafon of his ways,
Audacious is and rude;
Th'Almighty's deeds, because they're his,
Are therefore just and good.
Where fhallow reafon never could
The deep immenfe difcern
Of providence divine, it should
With due fubmiffion learn.

Not that he grudges man the views,
Of what difcern'd can be ;
His kind Creator to him fhews
More than his eyes can fee.

Our knowledge therefore never can
Raife in his breast envy,

When more is fhown than filly man
Is capable to spy.

14 Once and again, to form the mind,
God does inftruction give;

More than reluctant man's inclin'd,
Or willing to receive.

15 In dreams and vifions of the night,
In flumbers of the bed,

And in deep fleep, celeftial light
Hath been at tims convey'd.

Ver. He various ways reveals his will
16 To man, and leaves behind
Inftruations, touching good and ill,
Imprinted on the mind.

But our great Teacher's light will not
The myftic clouds difpell,

That keep his hidden paths remote,
And on his conduct dwell.

By's teachings must be understood,
He rather does devife

To make man, to his profit, good,
Than, to his peril, wife.

17 That from his finful purpofes,
Man may be drawn afide,

And humbly made, with will fubmifs,
To mortify his pride.

18. And thus his life and foul the Lord
Saves from deftruction's path;
And from the dire menacing fword
Of God's avenging wrath.

SONG LII.

The Patient defcribed in Extremity, and feafonably
relieved by the great Ranfomer.
Job xxxiii. 19,-30.

SECT. I.

Sickness come to an Extremity: Or, a fick Man
brought to the Gates of Death.
Ver. 19,-22.

19 IN mercy does the mighty God,
Man for his fins chaflife,

When he, t' inftru&t him by the rod,.
Diflurbs his bed of eafe.

Sore fickneffes, God's hoft array'd,
The frongest man affail;

Sharp pains his num'rous bones invade,
And o'er their firength prevail.

Ver. Hid poifon does his vigour walle,
His foul abhors the fight

20

Of curious meats, which once his tafte
Did relifh with delight.

21 He who before, in blooming pride,
Could boaft a graceful air;
And pamper'd at his eafe, abide
In figure, plump and fair.
Does now, by an amazing change,
His neighbours all furprise,
And pale lean cheeks, and flaring strange
With ghaftly hollow eyes.

His weary bones, a horrid fight!
All starting through the skin,

Which lay before, both day and night,
In flesh and fat unfeen.

22 His throbbing heart, with grief fubdu'd,
In pain and labour beats;

And life expiring, close purfu'd

Through every vein, retreats.

On-lookers think each gasp, or breath,
Will end the doleful fray;
And killing harbingers of death
Stand ready for the prey.

SECT. II.

The Faithful Soul-phyficien en inftrument of bringing back the fick Patient from the Gates of Death: Or, the Gospel Remedy fkilfully applied, and CHRIST the only Ranfom. Ver. 23,-30.

23 If then a meffenger attend,

That knows the voice of God,

And does, with prudence, apprehend
The errand of the rod;

Who, for a Soul-phyfician known,

From heaven his meffage bears:

Such an Interpreter is one
Among a thousand feers;

Ver. Who fkill'd to deal in deep diftrefs,
With finners and with faints;
To fhew to man his uprightness,
He neither hath or wants;
Who, having wifdom to be mild,
Or tart, as cafes crave,
Exhibits comfort to the child,
Conviction to the flave;

Inftructs the patient how to bear
The most afflictive rod
With foul-fubmifs, and ftill to clear
The righteoufnefs of God;

That he no quarrel, in his breast,
May 'gainst his Maker lodge,
But for his fins himself arreft,
And justify his Judge:

If thus the perfon, fick to death,
Receive instruction just,
And, owning fin's defert of wrath,
Be humbled to the duft;

Humbled to own his fcores of vice
And charges undefray'd;
And humbled to accept the price,
Was by the Surety paid:

24 Then God, most ready to acquit,
Says, "Save the captive bound
"From going down into the pit,
"I have the ranfom found.

"What I have found he judges good,
"And fo it is to me;

"The ranfom is my darling's blood,
"Go fet the captive free."

25 Then quick deliv'rance oft is wrought, The patient is made whole;

26 To health and firength his body brought, To peace and joy his foul.

28 Soon as he does his wrongs confefs, And choose the way that's right,

30 His God exalts him to the blifs Of lafting life and light.

GOD cannot be charged with Injuftice; and, being omnipotent, be cannot be unjust. Job xxxiv. 19,—15.

Ver. WHEN finners feel the chaft'ning rod,

10

Unjustly they complain:

Shall man the righteoufnefs of God
Prefumptuously arraign?

Far be't from God's imperial throne,
To practife wickedness:
Can th' infinitely holy One

The rules of right tranfgrefs?

11 Juftice divine, with wages meet,
The work of men repays,

And will each fon of Adam treat
According to his ways.

12 Yea, fure, as he is God upright,
He'll act no wicked part;

And fure, as he's the God of might,
He judgment won't pervert.

For who of fraud, or violence,
Dare God moft high indite,
Whose wisdom and omnipotence
Does guide all nature right?
Can any higher being be,

Whofe laws he fhould obferve,
Or pow'r fuperior in degree,

From truth to make him fwerve?

'Tis certain, therefore, he in whom
Perfections all abound,

Whose pow'r no pow'r can overcome,
With juftice must be crown'd.
His mind, to which no ftain adheres,
Shines ever pure and bright:
No maculating fpot appears

In uncreated light.

13 He who is fov'reign Lord of all,

Can inj'ry do to none;

Whate'er he takes, how great or fmall,
He but refumes his own.