Thou on the throne of David in full glory, From Egypt to Euphrates and beyond
Shalt reign, and Rome or Cæfar not need fear. 385 To whom our Saviour anfwer'd thus unmov'd. Much oftentation vain of fleshly arm,
And fragil arms, much inftrument of war Long in preparing, foon to nothing brought, Before mine eyes thou' haft fet; and in my ear 390 Vented much policy, and projects deep Of enemies, of aids, battels and leagues, Plaufible to the world, to me worth nought. Means I must use thou fay'ft, prediction elfe Will unpredict and fail me of the throne: My time I told thee (and that time for thee Were better fartheft off) is not yet come; When that comes, think not thou to find me flack On my part ought endevoring, or to need Thy politic maxims, or that cumbersome Luggage of war there shown me, argument Of human weakness rather than of strength. My brethren, as thou call'ft, them, those ten tribes I muft deliver, If I mean to reign
David's true heir, and his full fcepter fway 405 To juft extent over all Ifrael's fons;
But whence to thee this zeal, where was it then For Ifrael, or for David, or his throne, When thou ftood'ft up his tempter to the pride Of numb'ring Ifrael, which cost the lives
Of threescore and ten thousand Ifraelites By three days peftilence? fuch was thy zeal To Ifrael then, the fame that now to me.
As for those captive tribes, themselves were they Who wrought their own captivity, fell off From God to worship calves, the deities Of Egypt, Baal next and Afhtaroth,
And all th' idolatries of Heathen round,
Befides their other worfe than heath'nifh crimes; Nor in the land of their captivity
Humbled themselves, or penitent befought
The God of their forefathers; but fo dy'd Impenitent, and left a race behind
Like to themselves, distinguishable scarce From Gentiles, but by circumcision vain, And God with idols in their worship join'd. Should I of these the liberty regard,
Who freed, as to their ancient patrimony, Unhumbled, unrepentant, unreform'd,
Headlong would follow'; and to their Gods perhaps Of Bethel and of Dan? no, let them serve Their enemies, who serve idols with God. Yet he at length, time to himself best known, Remembring Abraham, by some wondrous call May bring them back repentant and fincere, 435 And at their paffing cleave th' Affyrian flood, While to their native land with joy they hafte, As the Red Sea and Jordan once he cleft,
When to the promis'd land their fathers pass'd; To his due time and providence I leave them. 440
So fpake Ifrael's true king, and to the Fiend Made answer meet, that made void all his wiles. So fares it when with truth falfhood contends.
The end of the Third Book.
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