THE History of JOSEPH: OR, A DIVINE POEM UPON Joseph and his Brethren. FROM The 37th. of Genesis to the end. Written exactly according to each Chapter; to which is Added a few other Poems: The like never before.  
By John Smith,  

Who is a lover, and sometimes  
Takes great delight in reading Rhimes:  
Yea, Quarles and Sandys, he adore  
Their noble works, and many more;  
Yet is not worthy to undo  
The Latchet of a Poets Shooe.   
Glory to God in th' highest Heaven still;  
Peace upon Earth, and towards me, good will.  Luk. 2. 14. 

Good Christians, let it be your chief delight,  
To sing the praise of God both day and night.  
Let this be Printed in each faithful heart,  
To join in Consort with me, and bear part.   
London, Printed by T. M. for W. Thackeray, at the Angel in Ducklane, 1677.   

Licenced,  
December 17th. 1676. Roger L'Estrange.   

TO HIS Worthy Mistress, Mrs. SUSAN JUCKES, Living in Brickington-Court in Coleman. Street, London; Wishing her all Happiness in this World, and Eternal Felicity in the World to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  
Worthy Mistress,  

TO You I do present  
This little Book, hoping 'twill you content:  
Accept, I pray you, of these feeble Rhymes;  
They are th' Fruits (Sooth) of my leisure times.  
But if they should in the least you offend,  
I shall repent that ever they were Penned:  
Because you are my Mistress; and I see,  
You have been more, a Mother unto me.  
And, like a Son, you always do me foster:  
Though I your Apprentice, yet live like a Master.  
If Joseph's Mistress she had been so true:  
Nay, had she been but half so good as You,  
Then Joseph he had never suffered wrong,  
Nor never had been cast in Prison strong:  
But he a wanton Mistress had we see,  
Though he deserved a better far than me.  
Now, though I am unfit to sing your Praise,  
I'll Honour and Respect you all my days,  
Though not in outward show, as other do:  
I am your faithful Servant just and true;  
And for your Health, Prosperity, and Peace,  
My Prayers t'God for You shall never cease:  
That you may never want; yet always giving,  
Till you shall cease to be among the Living:  
And when the Lord shall call you hence away,  
You may departed into Eternal Joy;  
Among whole Quires of Angels, for to sing  
sweet Hallelujahs to your Heavenly King.  
Now God preserve you whilst you live on Earth:  
I am your humble Servant until Death,  
JOHN SMITH. January 20. 1675.    

THE PROPOSITION.  

NOw Courteous Reader, who so e'er thou be  
That Read those Lines, judge not amiss of me;  
Think not I turn God's Word into a Song,  
To be profaned by every idle Tongue.  
No; wanton Songs amongst us are too Rife:  
I charge thee, touch it not upon thy Life,  
Except it be to Sing the Praise and Glory  
Of dread Jehovah: 'Tis no idle Story.  
I Sing the Praises of the Lord of Might,  
Who dwells for ever in excessive Light;  
Whose handy Work the Heavens do declare;  
His Works, his Glorious Works of Wonders rare:  
The Sun and Moon His Glory do present,  
And th'twinkling Stars throughout the Firmament;  
Which Light he gives to us the Sons of Men;  
How far more glorious is his Glory then?  
I Sing his Praise who did Advance, we see,  
His Servant Joseph to a High Degree;  
Who by his Wisdom gave to him such Skill,  
Dreams to Interpret, and declare his Will.  
I Sing his Praise, who by his mighty Hand,  
did after bring great Plagues on Egypt Land,  
For to Redeem his People Israel,  
Who did in Bondage, and in Slavery dwell.  
I Sing the Praises of the highest God,  
Who showed such Wonders great by Moses Rod;  
Who with a Stroke, the Red-Sea did divide;  
the Waters stood like Walls upon each side,  
All Israel marched through upon dry Ground;  
(But all th' Egyptians in the midst were drowned)  
And brought them to their Promised Land to dwell,  
Who forty Years against him did Rebel.  
Although our Sins grow daily more and more,  
The Lord our God hath Mercies still in store.  
Lord, what is Man that thou shouldst prove so kind!  
What is the Son of Man thou dost him mind!  
I Sing his Praise, whose Power caused the Sun  
To stand for Joshua the Son of Nun;  
Thereby his People's Foes he might destroy,  
Gave him a long and Victorious Day.  
I Sing his Praise, who gave such strength & might  
To Samson, who a thousand Men did smite;  
He slew them all, his Strength did so surpass,  
With nothing but the Jawbone of an Ass.  
I Sing his Praise, who gave such Courage hold  
To David, when his People's Hearts grew cold,  
T' slay their Enemy, though a Stripling,  
That great Goliath, with a silly Sling.  
O how his Wonders great do spread his Fame!  
Great is the Lord, Jehovah is his Name!  
O Let us Sing his Praises, great and small,  
Who gave himself a Ransom for us All;  
Who did upon him take our Humane Birth,  
And came and dwelled amangst us on the Earth;  
Who Cast out Devils, and Cured the Leprosy;  
And made the Lame to Walk, the Blind to See;  
And Raised the Dead, and did Restore again,  
The Sick to Health, and did Release their Pain:  
And then his precious Blood did freely give,  
And suffered Death, that we thereby might live.  
Lord, I am far unfit to Sing thy Praise,  
I am the Chiefest of Sinners all my Days:  
Pardon my Sins, for my Redeemers Sake,  
Who in six Days the Heaven & Earth did make,  
Who in a Moment can the same destroy:  
O make me fit for thy Eternal Joy!  
O thou, who art Creator of all things,  
Teach me to sing thy Praise, thou King of Kings!  
But rather than I should offend thy Will,  
Silence my Tongue O Lord, and stay my Quill:  
Because I can no way withstand thine Ire:  
I know thou art, Lord, a consuming Fire.  
How wonderful are all thy Works, O Lord?  
Thy Goodness and thy Riches doth afford  
Great plenty of thy Creatures manifold  
To us, as have been ever still of Old.  
O who will not Gods holy Name Adore,  
Who by his Power Rules for ever more:  
His Eyes behold the Nations; Ever seeing?  
In Him we Live, and Move, and have our Being.  
Who dare Exalt himself against the Lord?  
Who dare Rebel against his Holy Word?  
If any Love Him not upon the Earth,  
Woe! Woe to them! They are accursed to Death!  
I'll not Exalt myself above all other,  
To think myself more Righteous than another:  
I will in no case plead the Pharisee,  
But the poor Publican I'll rather be:  
For, let us serve the Lord with all our care,  
Unprofitable Servants still we are.  
Many there are that make an outward show;  
But those that fear thy Name, Lord, thou dost know.  
Some are of this Chrch, othersome are not;  
Some are of that Church, some I know not what:  
But very few there are of thine, I fear;  
Thy Church is scattered, Lord, I know not where.  
Make haste O Lord, bring thy true Church together,  
And then direct me, that I may go thither:  
For in this World I have not long to stay,  
Yet like a wandering Pilgrim go astray;  
And in thy Truth am still a young Beginner:  
O God be merciful to me a Sinner.  
hallelujah.    

A CROSTICH Upon his NAME.  

In thee, O Lord, I'll put my trust always,  
O Lord my God, to thee I will sing Praise:  
However thou dost please to deal with me,  
Never, O never let me slide from thee.   

Suffer me not, O Lord, to go astray;  
Make me I may thy holy Word obey;  
I than thy faithful Servant still shall be,  
To hate and to abhor Iniquity,  
Honouring and Exalting none but thee.    

THE History of Joseph: OR, A Divine Poem upon Joseph and his Brethren.  

CHAP I. Being the xxxvii. of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Joseph his Dreams do here Relate,  
His Brethren for it do him hate;  
And in their Malice did him sell  
To Egypt, there a Slave to dwell;  
Hoping they ne'er should see him more:  
But Jacob mourneth for him sore.   

OUr Ancient Father Jacob called by Name,  
Dwelled in the Land of Canaan in great Fame;  
He feared the Lord, and did his Word obey;  
And in that Land he sojourned many a day:  
He had twelve Sons; and of their Lineage came  
The Tribes of all the Earth, & bore their Name:  
Joseph and Benjamin the youngest were,  
Whom Rachel his beloved Wife did Bear.  
Seventeen Years of Age was Joseph, when  
He sometimes kept Sheep with his Brothers:  
Yet he did not delight their Evil Sport,  
But brought his Father still, their bad Report.  
Now he was pleasing in his Father's sight,  
And also was his Father's chief delight:  
Begot in's Age; wherefore he loved him best,  
And made his Garment differ from the rest:  
A Coat of party Colours Joseph had.  
His Father made it for this comely Lad:  
Wherefore his Brethren are with him displeased,  
And hates him sore, and will not be appeased.  
But Joseph dreamt a Dream, and thus did say  
Unto his Brethren, Here my Dream I pray:  
Behold, we were together in the Field  
A binding Sheaes, and when we had them filled,  
And bound them up, they all stood up an end;  
Mine in the mia'st, as I could comprehend:  
And all of yours with meek behaviour Fine,  
Did make Obeisance, and bow down to mine.  
Then said his Brethren, Shalt thou Rule & Reign  
Over us all? but spoke it in disdain:  
And now their Hatred yet did more increase,  
They would not speak a word to him in Peace.  
Yet Joseph dreamed another Dream, and told  
His Father, and his Brethren: Behold,  
The Sun & Moon, and th' Eleven Stars (said he)  
Did bow, and make obeisance unto me.  
What mean those Dreams (his Father then did say)  
Must I thy Servant be? Must I obey?  
Shall I, and all thy Brethren, bow to thee?  
Away, away my Son, this must not be.  
Thus he Rebukes him, seeming then unkind;  
But yet he bore those Save in his Mind.  
Now joseph's Brethren did in Sechem keep  
Their Herds of , & their Flocks of Sheep:  
And Israel calls his Son, and bids him go  
To Sechem to his Brethren, to know  
How it is with them, to come and tell  
His Father, if they and their Flocks are well.  
Joseph is willing his Father to obey,  
And towards Sechem straight he took his way.  
Now when at length that Country he came ne'er,  
He then was told, His Brethren were not there:  
Then to the Man that told him, he did say,  
Where doth my Brethren feed their Flocks I pray?  
Thy Brethren with their Flocks (said he) are gone  
From hence to Dothan: Joseph thereupon  
Departed thence, and after them did haste  
To Dothan, where he found them out at last:  
But when his Brethren saw him afar off,  
Before he came to them, thus they did scoff:  
Behold, the Dreamer cometh, now (say they)  
The Dreamer cometh; now we will him stay,  
And cast him in some Pit; then we shall see,  
What will become of these his Dreams and Herald  
But Reuben did entreat them thus, and say,  
O let's not use such Cruelty I pray;  
He is our Brother: let's not do so ill;  
O let us not: let's not our Brother kill:  
But if my Brethren you will think it fit,  
We'll cast him as you said into some Pit:  
Reuben persuades them thus, cause he would fain  
Restore him to his Father once again:  
So than they stripped him of his Coat at last;  
And in a Pit poor Joseph he was cast;  
A Pit which in the Wilderness was there,  
'Twas Empty, and from Water it was clear:  
So they sat down to Dine, and did espy  
A Company of Ishmaelites go by.  
Who came from Gilead, and for Egypt bent,  
To carry Spices was their full intent:  
Then Judah said unto his Brethren,  
Let's sell our Brother Joseph to these Men:  
'Twill not avail us, neither is it good,  
To let him Perish, and conceal his blood.  
Out of the Pit they drew their Brother then,  
And presently they bargained with those Men.  
For twenty Silver pieces he was sold;  
All were agreed, the money's quickly told.  
Now Joseph's gone, his Brethren have their will;  
He's sold and gone; but God is with him still.  
Then Reuben came unto the Pit anon,  
To seek his Brother, Ah! but he is gone:  
He rends his , his Vital Spirits burn;  
And thus with grief for Joseph he did mourn;  
The Child is gone, but where I do not know;  
The Child is not; and I, where shall I go?  
And thus poor Reuben he did sadly grieve,  
Whilst they Conspire their Father to deceive:  
So from the Flock they took a Kid and killed,  
And dipted his Coat into the Blood they spilled;  
And to their Father did convey it so,  
To see if he might know this Coat or no:  
And Jacob knew it, and with grief he said,  
This is my Son's Coat, he is sure destroyed.  
Alas my Son (said he) where hath he been?  
Some evil Beast hath sure devoured him.  
And now he rends his  in woeful sort,  
And mourns in Sackcloth so, his Sons resort  
To comfort him; but Comfort's from him fled,  
And he refuses to be Comforted.  
He's Dead (said he)! what Pleasure can I have?  
I will go down with Sorrow to the Grave.  
Thus for him many Days he did lament,  
Mourning full sore with grief and discontent;  
Nothing would any Comfort to him give:  
But Joseph's well, and doth in Egypt live.    

CHAP. II. Being the xxxix. of Genesis:  
The Argument.  

Joseph to Potiphar is sold;  
God doth him prosper manifold.  
Potiphars Wife doth fix her Eye  
On Joseph, and would with him Lie:  
But he denies her, being ;  
And therefore is in Prison cast.   

NOw down to Egypt Joseph he was brought,  
And by an Officer of Pharaoh's bought.  
The Ishmaelites in Egypt did him sell  
To Potiphar, and with him he doth dwell:  
And now the Lord's with Joseph, and doth give  
Prosperity with's Master where he live:  
His Master saw it, and did understand  
The Lord made all things prosper in his Hand:  
Wherefore in Joseph he took great delight;  
So that he found great favour in his sight:  
He made him Ruler over all he had;  
Of his true Servant he's exceeding glad:  
And from that time he did him Ruler make:  
God blest what e'er he had, for Joseph's sake:  
He blest his house with great Content and Peace;  
And blest his field also, with great Increase.  
And now all things are left to Joseph's hand;  
He takes account of nothing to Command,  
Saving the bread, which he alone did eat;  
Nothing he doth regard, except his meat.  
Now Joseph's Comely; yet will not be led  
To ill temptations, though wellfavoured:  
Though he hath Pleasure and Content his fill,  
And may lie with his Mistress, if he will:  
No; Joseph he doth love and fear the Lord;  
And therefore such great wickedness abhorred.  
But yet his Mistress casts her wanton Eye  
On him, desiring him, with her to Lie;  
But Joseph, he his Mistress did refuse;  
And did entreat her, that she would excuse  
Him; saying thus, You well do understand,  
My Master hath put all things in my hand:  
There's none in all his house so great as I;  
Nothing at all that he doth me deny  
Of all he hath, that doth belong to Life,  
But only thee; because thou art his Wife.  
How can I do this wickedness (quoth he)  
And sin against my God? it must not be.  
Yet day by day, she sought to have her will;  
But he withstands her, and denies her still.  
Then on a certain day, when Joseph went  
Into the house, where he did much frequent,  
She came to him, seeing that none was by,  
And Caught him by the Garment, saying, Lie  
With me; but Joseph soon did her withstand,  
And fled, and left his Garment in her hand;  
And got him out: but when that he was gone,  
She called some other of her house, anon;  
And said, the Hebrew servant he hath brought,  
Came in to mock me; and with me he sought  
To Lie: but when I lift my voice, and Cried,  
He fled away, because I him denied:  
And here his Garment he hath left with me;  
But when my Lord comes, he the same shall see.  
So, when her Lord came home, thus she did say,  
Thy Hebrew servant mocked me to day;  
He came to Sleep with me; but when I Cried,  
He fled a way, because I him denied:  
He fled, and left his Garment here with me;  
I laid it up, my Lord, for you to see.  
Now, when her Lord this thing did understand,  
His wrath was kindled; and he did Command,  
That Joseph should be Cast in Prison strong:  
His righteous servant, now, must suffer wrong:  
But God's with Joseph; loves his meek behaviour,  
And in the Prison he hath got him Favour:  
The keeper of the Prison thinks it fit,  
All things to Joseph's hand he doth commit.  
He sees that all things prospers in his hand,  
He looks to nothing; Joseph bears Command.  
Now those that love and fear the Lord, we see,  
Finds Grace and Mercy still, where e'er they be.    

CHAP. III. Being the xl. of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

King Pharaohs servants prisoned are,  
And Joseph, he their Dreams declare;  
But doth acknowledge, 'tis the Lord  
That doth such light to him afford,  
The Butler doth ungrateful prove,  
Forgetteth Joseph's former Love.   

A Little after this, it Came to pass,  
King Pharaoh's Butler and Chief Baker was,  
For some offence which to the King was done,  
They both were cast in Prison thereupon.  
Into the Prison now, where Joseph was,  
And he the Charge and keeping of them has.  
Now in one night, they both of them did Dream,  
And in the Morning troubled were extreme:  
Joseph perceived it; and to them did say,  
Why are ye now so sad (my Friends) to day?  
We both have dreamed (said they) & troubled are  
Because we know here's no interpreter.  
Interpretations are of God (said he);  
Then say not so, but tell your Dreams to me.  
So then the Butler did to Joseph tell  
His dream; and said, to me it thus befell;  
I saw a Vine before me in full growth,  
And, in the Vine, three Branches budding forth:  
They budded forth, the Blossoms did appear;  
Next came the Grapes, & quickly ripe they were;  
And, in my hand I had King Pharaoh's Cup;  
I took and wrung the Grapes, and filled it up:  
And then as far, as I could understand,  
I did deliver th' Cup to Pharaoh's hand.  
This is th' Interpretations (Joseph says)  
The Branches that thou sawest, are three days;  
For, by that time, King Pharaoh shall restore  
Thee, to thy place, that thou wert in before:  
And thou shalt also bear the same Command;  
To take and give his Cup into his hand.  
But, have me in remembrance with thee,  
When thou shalt come in thy Prosperity;  
And mention me to Pharaoh now, I pray,  
That I in Prison may no longer stay.  
I am an Hebrew, stolen away by theft,  
Out of my Native Land, and here am left  
To suffer; and yet I have done no wrong  
To any, yet am cast in Prison strong.  
Now, when the Baker saw and understood,  
What Joseph told the Butler, seemed good;  
He said unto him, Joseph, now I see,  
Thy say good, interpret now for me:  
I dreamed I had three Baskets on my head;  
In one, baked Meat; the Birds about me fled;  
Out of the uppermost they all did eat,  
It being full of Pharaoh's dainty Meat.  
Then to the Baker, Joseph he did say;  
Thy baskets likewise, each of 's a day:  
For, in three days, King Pharaoh thou shalt see,  
Will cause thee to be Hanged on a Tree:  
And then, the birds will come thy Flesh to eat,  
And fly about thee, as they did thy Meat.  
So three days after, Pharaoh made a feast;  
The Butler, and the Baker, were released:  
The Butler did, his butler ship Command,  
To give the Cup again to Pharaoh's hand.  
The Baker he was hanged upon a tree:  
What Joseph said, did come to pass we see.  
But now the Butler he remembered not  
His old friend Joseph, but hath him forgot.    

CHAP. IU. Being the xli. of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

King Pharaoh's dreams torment his mind,  
Till an Expounder he can find:  
The Butler Joseph doth Commend  
To Pharaoh, who doth for him send:  
Joseph makes known his dreams; and he,  
Advanced is to high degree.   

BUt stay! shall righteous Joseph still remain  
A Prisoner, never to come out again!  
No; though the Butler he remembered not,  
The Lord his God, he hath not him forgot:  
But two years after, by his Mighty hand,  
The King of Egypt then, he did Command,  
That he his righteous Joseph should deliver:  
For lo he dreamed that he stood by a River;  
And seven Fat Kine did to him appear  
Out of th' River, as he was standing there;  
And, in a pleasant Meadow they did feed:  
But, after, seven Lean ones did proceed.  
And as the fat kine in the Meadow fed,  
They, by the lean ones, were devoured.  
Yet, to his sight, so vile they did appear,  
They still more ugly, and ill-favoured were.  
Upon this dream King Pharaoh did awake;  
But fell a sleep again, his rest to take;  
And dreamed the second time, before 'twas Morn;  
And in his dream, saw seven Ears of Corn,  
Which sprung and grew upon one stalk so rare,  
No Ears of Corn were ever seen so fair:  
And after them, there sprung up seven more,  
But with the East-Wind, blasted very sore,  
And presently devoured all the good.  
So, Pharaoh he awaked, and understood  
It 'twas a dream; he quickly gave Command,  
To call the Soothsayers of all the Land:  
They may interpret, and his Dreams declare;  
For why, his spirits sorely troubled are.  
So, all the Wisemen far and near did haste,  
And came before their Lord, the King, at last.  
But when the King, his dreams to them had told,  
Not one of them, that could the same unfold.  
Then, to the King, the Butler he did say,  
I call to mind a fault in me this day;  
When I in prison, and the Baker were,  
Pharaoh in's Anger caused us to be there;  
So there we being troubled in our mind,  
We both did dream; but little thought to find  
A man, to be endued with Wisdom so,  
In all the Prison, that our Dream could show:  
Therefore, we troubled were, and sore dismayed;  
But there, an Hebrew servant to us said,  
Why are ye now so sad my Friends to day?  
What is your trouble? tell it me I pray.  
So then we told our Dreams to him, and he  
Declared the truth, as we did after see.  
Upon this news, King Pharaoh quickly sent  
Some of his Servants, and with speed they went.  
Now Joseph shall not long in prison stay:  
Come forth of prison, Joseph; come away;  
'Tis thee alone, that must those Dreams unfold;  
'Tis thee alone, shalt wear the Chain of Gold.  
At last, this News they did to Joseph bring;  
Who shaved, & Changed, & came before the King:  
So he beheld him, and to him did say,  
Canst thou declare a Dream to me I pray?  
I have of late, heard great report of thee,  
That thou canst tell a dream, what e'er it be.  
Then Joseph answered Pharaoh thus, and said,  
Let not the King be troubled, nor dismayed;  
For without me, the Lord shall answer Peace  
To Pharach: therefore let thy trouble cease.  
Then Pharach said to Joseph; In my dream,  
I by a River stood; a pleasant stream;  
And seven Fat Kine did to me appear,  
Out of th' River, as I was standing there:  
And in a pleasant Meadow, they did feed;  
But after, Seven Lean ones did proceed,  
And did devour th' fat ones, that were there:  
Yet still more ugly, and ill-favoured were.  
Upon this dream, I quickly did awake;  
But fell a sleep again, my Rest to take;  
And dreamed the second time, before 'twas morn;  
And in my dream, saw seven Ears of Corn;  
Which sprang and grew, upon one stalk, so rare;  
No Ears of Corn, were ever seen so fair:  
And after them, there sprang up seven more;  
But with the East Wind, blasted very sore,  
And presently devoured all the good:  
So I waked, and when I understood  
It was a dream, I quickly did command,  
To send for the Magicians of the Land:  
But none of them, could these my Dreams declare;  
They knew not what they meant, nor what they are.  
Let not the King said Joseph troubled be,  
The Lord will show the truth thereof to thee;  
He has already, what he means to do:  
Thy dreams are one, O King, and are not two.  
The seven Fat Kine that did first appear;  
They do betoken each of them a Year:  
So do the Ears of Corn, that grew so rare  
Upon one stalk, and seemed to thee so fair.  
The evil kine that after did appear,  
And blasted Ears, do show a Dearth is near.  
This is the thing, and thou shalt find 'tis true;  
Yea this is that the Lord intends to do:  
For, seven years of Plenty there shall be,  
In all thy Land; and after thou shalt see,  
A Famine great, and Plenty shall be not  
Throughout all Lands; but shall be quite forgot  
For seven more; as thou shalt understand,  
Until this Famine hath Consumed the Land.  
And now the cause, thy Dream so doubled was,  
The Lord hath said it, and 'twill come to pass:  
Let Pharaoh therefore, see to get a man,  
That is of understanding, if he can:  
And let him also Officers provide;  
And set them over Egypt Land so wide;  
And see they Careful be of this Command,  
To gather in the Fifth of all the Land;  
During the seven years of this great Plenty,  
To lay up Corn, and let no place be empty,  
At thy Command, O King, in every City,  
That when the Famine comes, thou may'st have pity;  
So with thy food thou shalt thy Country Cherish,  
And save thy people, that they may not perish.  
Now Pharaoh's pleased, and said, I witness can,  
In all my Land, there is not such a man.  
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, For as much,  
As God's great Wisdom now in thee is such;  
There's none of Understanding now I see,  
In all the Land for Wisdom, like to thee.  
Thou shalt be next me, none shall near remove thee:  
But in my throne, I will be still above thee  
Behold, I set thee over Egypt Land.  
And then he took his Ring from off his hand,  
And gave it Joseph; and to him he said,  
In Costly Garments thou shalt be arrayed.  
So in fine Linen, he did him bedeck;  
And put a Chain of Gold about his Neck:  
His Second Chariot Joseph did command;  
The people abrech Cried throughout the Land:  
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, thou shalt see,  
I Pharaoh am; and therefore none but thee,  
Shall dare to stir a foot, in all the Land;  
But shall before thee in subjection stand.  
And Joseph, Pharaoh called another Name,  
And gave to him, a Wife of princely fame.  
And he was thirty years of Age, when he  
Departed from the King, the Land to see.  
So Joseph went throughout all Egypt Land,  
And gathered Corn, in number as the sand:  
He, and his servants, gathered in such store,  
They knew not where to lay up any more.  
And now, two sons, to Joseph, there were Born;  
Before the Dearth, and scarcity of Corn.  
Manasseth, Joseph called the first by Name;  
Saying, the land's forgot from whence I came.  
He called the second Ephraim, for (said he)  
In my affliction God hath gave him me.  
The seven years of plenty, now doth Cease;  
As Joseph said, the Famine did increase:  
Over all Lands, the Famine sore is spread;  
But in the Land of Egypt, there was bread.  
At length the scarcity increased amain  
Among th' Egyptians; So they did Complain  
To Pharaoh: But (said he) to Joseph go;  
Make your addresses to him, let him know:  
So than they did, and Joseph of his store,  
Did fell to them, but still they wanted more.  
All Nations buys their food at Joseph's hands;  
Because the Famine's grievous in all Lands:  
So grievous, that all Nations far and nigh,  
Comes all to Egypt, now, their food to buy.    

CHAP. V Being the xlii of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Now Jacob sendeth speedily,  
His Sons to Egypt, food to buy.  
But Joseph takes them all for spies;  
And Simeon there a prisoner lies:  
The rest return, oppressed in mind,  
For Grief their brother's left behind.   

NOw Jacob calls his sons, and thus he said,  
Cheer up yourselves, and be not you dismayed:  
Why do you now upon each other gaze?  
Why do ye stand so? are you in a Maze?  
Behold, said he, I now do understand,  
That there is Corn enough in Egypt Land.  
Then get you down to Egypt; go, and buy  
A little food from thence, we may not die.  
So Joseph's breth'rens, they did haste away,  
But Benjamin doth with his father stay;  
For Jacob said, least mischief him befall,  
And he be lost, I am bereft of all.  
So Jacob's sons to Egypt came at last;  
Before the governor, they all did haste;  
And in his presence, are admitted now,  
And to the earth, before him they did bow.  
Now Joseph knew his brothers, & said,  
From whence come you? which made 'em fore afraid;  
Because he roughly spoke and seemed so strange,  
As though his countenance did something change.  
Now they their brother Joseph hath forgot;  
Although he knows them, yet they know him not.  
We came from Canaan Sir, they did reply;  
We hither come, a little food to buy.  
Joseph remembered now his Dreams, and said,  
You sure are come as Spies, I am afraid.  
But they said, Nay my Lord, thy servant's come  
To buy us food, the famine's sore at home:  
We all are one man's sons, they thus replies;  
Thy servants are true men, we are no Spies.  
But Joseph said, do I not understand,  
You come as spies, to see our naked Land.  
But they said, Nay, we all are Brothers;  
We are no spies, my Lord; we are true men;  
All of our Father lawfully begot:  
The youngest is with him; but one is not.  
Then Joseph said, I take you now for spies,  
Because I think these stories you devise;  
By th' life of Pharaoh, you shall not go hence;  
For with your speeches, I cannot dispense,  
Until, that brother come, that I may know,  
If there be any truth in you, or no:  
Then send for him, and let the truth appear;  
Or else you shall remain as prisoners here.  
So then, he put them in ward all three days;  
But on the third day, thus to them he says;  
This do, and live; for I do fear the Lord,  
Therefore this liberty I'll you afford;  
Go, carry Food for all you have at home;  
But bring your younger brother when you come:  
And one of you shall here in prison stay;  
But go the rest with food, and hast away.  
So then they fell to reason with each other;  
And said, we sure are guilty of our brother;  
When he besought, and craved Mercy on us,  
But we refused; now evils come upon us.  
Then Reuben said, to save him, I desired,  
But you would not: and now his blood's required.  
And now they thought none understood them; for,  
Joseph he spoke by an interpreter:  
So than he turned aside from them, to weep;  
But yet his brother Simeon he will keep:  
And caused him to be bound before their eyes,  
That they may see, he takes them still for spies.  
And then his Servants did Command, that they  
Should fill their sacks with Corn, they might away.  
And give them victuals, that they might not lack,  
And put their mony-bags into each sack.  
So this they did, and they departed thence,  
To take their Journey; now they did Commence:  
And when they came at length into their Inn  
To give their Ass' Corn, they did begin:  
And lo, when one he had his sack untied,  
his bag of money there he soon espied.  
Behold, my money's in my sack, he said;  
But when they saw it, they were all afraid:  
And said unto each other thereupon,  
O what is this the Lord to us hath done!  
And now with speed, they hasted home to tell  
Their Father, how all things to them befell:  
The man, said they, that's Lord of Egypt Land,  
Took us for spies, and there he did Command,  
That we should be imprisoned; for (said he)  
You all are spies, and come our Land to see.  
But we said, nay, we were twelve brothers,  
All one man's sons, and all of us true men.  
And one is not, the other is this day,  
With our Father. So then he thus did say,  
If you be true men, you shall here with me  
A brother leave, that I the truth may see.  
And go you, carry food for all at home;  
But bring yourbrother with you, when you come:  
Then I shall see if you are just and true;  
And will restore your brother unto you,  
So I the truth of you may understand;  
You then, said he, shall traffic in our Land.  
So now they fell a empting of their food,  
And saw their money, and amazed they stood;  
Wondering at it, and were sore dismayed;  
Their father likewise, he was sore afraid,  
And thus he said, b'ing troubled at their news,  
You Rob me of my sons, and me abuse:  
Joseph is not, and Simeon's gone I see,  
And you'll take Benjamin; O woe is me!  
Then Reuben to his Father thus did say,  
Suffer the Lad to go with us I pray:  
Take my two sons, and cause them to be slain,  
If I bring not the Lad to thee again.  
But Jacob said, my Son shall never go,  
He ne'er shall part from me, for aught I know.  
O leave my Benjamin, my life to save!  
Bring not my Grey head Mourning to the grave.    

CHAP VI Being the xliii of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Jacob, for want of food complain;  
To Egypt, sends his Sons again:  
But is oppressed, and full of we  
For grief that Benjamin, must go.  
So they 〈◊〉 Present with them take,  
And Joseph much of them doth make.   

NOw in the Land, the famine still was great;  
The food they brought from Egypt's almost eat:  
Then Jacob said, our food now groweth scant,  
Go buy aga●● (my Sons) we may not want.  
Judah made answer to his Father now,  
And said the man most solemnly did vow,  
Saying, you ●ere shall, in my presence come,  
Except you bring your brother that's at home.  
Then let the Lad go with us now (said he)  
Or, else we never more his face shall see.  
But if thou wilt not, than it is in vain;  
And we must never think to go again.  
Then Jacob said, Why did you let him know,  
You had a brother? Why would you do so?  
Because, said they, he every thing enquired;  
That we were forced to tell what he desired:  
For thus he said: Have you no other brother?  
D' your Father live? and one thing or an other,  
We answered him, as you may apprehend,  
To all: yet knew not what would be the end.  
Can we know certainly, or any other,  
That he would say unto us, bring your brother?  
Then Judah, he with this importune great,  
Said, Suffer him to go, I thee entreat,  
That we may go a little food to buy▪  
We may not perish here for want, and die.  
I will be surety: what canst thou desire?  
That of my hands thou mayest him require:  
And if I bring him not to thee, I'll never  
Attempt thy presence, but be blamed for ever.  
Then lets not tarry, knowing 'tis in vain:  
For by this time we might have come again.  
Then said their father, if he needs must go,  
Hard is the case; but if it must be so,  
Then take a Present with you for the man;  
The best fruits in your vessels now you can:  
Myrrh, Nuts and Almonds, and a little Honey;  
And you shall now take with you double money▪  
The money you brought back besure you take:  
I do suppose it might be some mistake.  
And take your brother: rise, go to the man,  
Make you your peace with him the best you can.  
Humble yourselves to him with meek behaviour,  
The Lord Almighty grant to you his favour:  
He may restore to you your Brethren;  
Your Brother Simeon, and my Benjamin.  
But I shall of my children be bereaved;  
Yea I shall of my Children be deceived:  
So with their Present, and the Money, they  
Risen up; and with their brother took their way  
The second time, to Egypt now for food;  
When they came there, before their brother stood:  
Now when he saw that Benjamin was come  
He did command his Steward t' take them home,  
Unto his house, & bid him kill and slay  
And get my Dinner ready he did say;  
A Sumptuous Dinner, see you get it done:  
These men said he, shall dine with me at Noon.  
But when those men to Joseph's house were brought,  
They were dismayed, & troubled in their thought:  
Is it not for the Money they did say,  
That in our Sacks we spied by the way,  
That we are brought here? so they were afraid;  
We shall be slaves, and bondmen now they said,  
For they may take occasion now thereby,  
To bring us all in Cruel slavery:  
So with th' steward they communed at the door,  
And said: O Sir, when we came here before,  
We came at first to buy a little food,  
And truly we had that of thee was good:  
But by the way, as we our sacks untied,  
Our Money in full weight we there espied;  
But we have brought it Sir, again to thee;  
And other Money with us thou shalt see.  
But, how this thing, said they, to us befell:  
Who put it in our Sacks we cannot tell.  
Peace be to you the Steward to them said;  
We had your Money, be not you afraid.  
The goodness of your God is without measure,  
And in your Sacks hath given you this treasure.  
Thus with such loving words he did them greet,  
And gave them water all to wash their feet.  
Their brother Simeon he restored again,  
And brought him to them while they there remain.  
To give their Ass' Corn he did repair;  
For every thing in order there was care:  
And they to be more welcome, for remedy,  
With diligence did get their Present ready:  
And then their brother Joseph came at last,  
To bring their Present to him they did haste:  
And in his presence humbly stood round,  
And bowed themselves before him to the ground.  
So he enquired of their peace and wealth;  
How does the old man? is he yet in health?  
Is he yet well, and in prosperity?  
Or does he live? So thus they did reply:  
Thy servant, and our Father, with his wealth  
Is yet alive, and does enjoy his health:  
And we do hope, that he doth so remain;  
And so they bowed themselves to him again.  
At last he there beheld his younger Brother  
Benjamin, and the Son of his own Mother:  
And when he did obeisance to him make,  
Is this the Lad, said he, of whom you spoke?  
And thus he said unto him thereupon,  
The Lord be merciful to thee my Son:  
Then Joseph hasted, for his Bowels yearned  
Upon his Brethren, though 'twas not discerned:  
And where to weep he sought, and then did go  
Into his Chamber: When he had done so,  
He afterwards came forth; but did retreat  
And washed his face, and bid them set on meat.  
So by himself, for him they did prepare,  
And for th' Egyptians by themselves, with care.  
For none of them by any means would eat,  
Not with the Ebrews any kind of meat.  
So for this cause, there was a Separation,  
Because to them 'twas an abomination.  
Now they were set before him to eat bread,  
As they in years were, so they marvelled:  
And then he sent to each of them a mess,  
From before him, his love for to express:  
But unto Benjamin, his love was such,  
He caused his mess to be five times as much:  
So thus with him they sumptuously did dine,  
And drank their fill, and merry were with wine.    

CHAP. VII. Being the xliv of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Joseph his brethren accuse  
With theft: So they do not refuse.  
If Benjamin shall home be sent,  
Judah'l Suffer imprisonment.  
And will for ever, be a slave;  
His word and's Father's life to save.   

NOw Joseph did Command, his Steward to fill  
Their Sacks with food; who did obey his will.  
These men said he, they may no longer tarry,  
Go fill their Sacks so full as they can carry:  
Let it be done, and see they nothing lack,  
And put again their Money in each Sack.  
When you have done, and all things are put up;  
Into the youngest, put my Silver Cup.  
The Steward did for them, as he did say,  
And in the Morning they did haste away:  
Now from the City far they were not gone,  
But Joseph called unto his Steward anon:  
And said unto him, haste, and get thee up;  
Pursue the men, go fetch my Silver Cup:  
And say unto them, why do you so 〈◊〉  
As to requi●e the thus for my good will?  
Have you not taken my Lord's Cup? for 〈◊〉  
He can Divine, and he can Prophecy.  
So when he over-took themque thus he said,  
And they were troubled, and were sore afraid  
Why dost thou from my Lord such tidings bring,  
Said they? the Lord forbidden us such a thing.  
Did we not bring the Money in our hand,  
Which in our Sacks we found, you understand.  
How should we then presume, or be so bold  
To steal out of his house, Silver or Gold?  
Lo, whomsoever has it, let him die;  
And we will all be brought in slavery.  
Let it be so (the Steward to them did say)  
According to your words: I cannot stay;  
Wish whomsoever now the Cup is found,  
You shall be innocent, let him be bound.  
Then presently they did their Sacks unlade;  
And from the Eldest to the Youngest, made  
A Search: and when they had their Sacks unbound,  
In Benjamin's the Silver Cup was found  
Ah! then they Rend their , and every man  
Laded his Ass, and presently began  
Towards the City, now to hast amain;  
Their Journey's s●aid, they must go back again!  
So Judah and his Brethren came near  
Their Brother Joseph; for he yet was there:  
And straight they sell before him to the ground,  
With Dread and Fear which did so much abound:  
And Joseph said unto them thereupon,  
What is this Deed● that you to me have done?  
Do you not know that such a man as I  
Can certainly Divine and Prophecy?  
Then Judah said, How shall we speak a word?  
What shall we speak, or say unto my Lord?  
Now God hath sound out our great wickedness;  
We are thy Servants, thus he did express:  
For ever let us to my Lord be Bound,  
Both we, & he, with whom the Cup was sound.  
But Joseph made them answer, saying No;  
The Lord forbidden (said he) I should do so:  
Let he which had it, be my Servant rather;  
But you depart in Peace unto your Father.  
Then Judah said thus; and to him drew near,  
O let me speak a word in my Lord's Ear;  
And let not Wrath be kindled in thy Heart,  
Against thy Servants; thou as Pharaoh art:  
My Lord did ask if we a Father had,  
Or any Brother; so we answer made,  
We had a Father that was Grave and Old,  
And he a Son had with him, thus we told;  
And he alone was left him of his Mother:  
Begot in's Age, he and another Brother;  
And one is not; the other he above  
The rest of us, most dearly do him love.  
Now thou didst bid us bring him unto thee,  
When we did come again, thou mightst him see;  
But to my Lord thy Servants did Reply,  
If he should leave his Father, he would die:  
And thou didst say, Except you bring him me,  
Thy Servants never more thy Face should see:  
So when we back unto our Father came,  
We did acquaint thy Servant of the same;  
But when our Father he had understood,  
He bid us turn again to buy some Food:  
We made him answer thus; we cannot go,  
Unless our Brother's with us, thou dost know:  
But if he go not with us, we are sure,  
That we shall see the Face of him no more.  
Then said thy Servant, and our Father dear;  
You know my Wife two Sons to me did bear;  
And one of them (said he) departed hence;  
I never heard of him, nor saw him since:  
And if you take this from me, that I have,  
You will, with sorrow bring me to my Grave.  
Now therefore, when I come to him, he'll see  
The Lad is left, and he is not with me;  
His heart upon him, do so much depend,  
I know his Life will soon be at an end.  
Thus we our aged Father shall not save;  
But full of Grief, shall bring him to the Grave.  
Thy servant, I, am surety for the Child,  
That from him, he no way should be exiled;  
Saying, if I bring him not to thee, I'll never  
Come in thy fight; but bear the blame for ever:  
I pray thee, let me be thy servant then,  
And let the Lad go with his Brothers.  
How can I go? I'll be thy servant, rather  
Than go to see this Evil of my Father.    

CHAP. VIII. Being the xlv. of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Now Joseph, doth himself make known,  
His Brethren lovingly doth own;  
And for his Father without stay,  
Doth send his Brethren away:  
Whose Tidings Jacob did Revive,  
To hear his Son is yet alive,   

THen Joseph, he no longer could refrain,  
Before all them, that did with him remain;  
But being sorely grieved in his Heart,  
He wept, and caused each man for to departed,  
Whilst he revealed himself, in presence then,  
There was no man besides his Brethren:  
He Wept aloud: So that it did appear,  
That all the House of Pharaoh they did hear;  
And to his Brethren then he thus did say,  
I am your Brother, whom you sold away:  
Your brother Joseph; you may Credit give:  
How does my Father now? Does he yet Live?  
But Fear and Grief in them was so redoubled,  
They could not speak to him, they were so Troubled.  
Then Joseph, he again to them did say,  
Come near to me my Brothers, I pray;  
So they came near, and he again doth tell,  
I Joseph am, whom you did hither sell:  
Yet be not grieved, though this thing be true;  
It was the Lord that sent me here, not you:  
Take heed therefore, in you there be no strife;  
For God did send me here, to save your Life.  
There is but two Years, of this Famine past;  
But seven Years, this Scarcity will last:  
And there is five to come, wherein you'll see,  
No Ear-ring nor no Harvest there will be.  
Wherhfore the Lord did send me to this Land,  
For to preserve you, by his mighty Hand;  
And he hath made me Father, and a Lord  
To Pharaoh; thus his Power doth afford,  
To me this greatness: You now understand,  
I Ruler am throughout all Egypt Land.  
Haste you unto my Father now, and tell,  
Thus faith thy Son, that is alive and well;  
Joseph thy Son, whom God hath made to be  
Ruler in Egypt: Come and dwell with me:  
And in the Land of Goshen thou shalt dwell,  
'Tis near me, and all other doth excel.  
Thy children's Children whilst this Famine last,  
Thy Herds & Flocks, & what soe'er thou hast;  
I may preserve thee here, and may th●e Cherish,  
Left in those five Years Famine, thou shouldst perish.  
And now my Brethren, you do see 'tis true,  
That it is I alone, that speak to you:  
And tell my Father, he may come, and see  
My glory; and may here abide with me.  
Then on the neck of Benjamin his Brother,  
He wept; and so they wept upon each other:  
Moreover, he kissed all his brothers,  
And wept; and so they talked with him then.  
At length, this tidings unto Pharaoh came;  
He, and his house, are pleased with the same.  
And unto Joseph, Pharaoh thus did say,  
Make haste, and send thy brothers away;  
That they from Canaan, may thy Father bring:  
He shall be welcome here, whilst I am King.  
I'll give to him, the best of all the Land;  
The best that's here, shall be at his command.  
And let them Chariots take, for all at home,  
That all their Wives and Children may come:  
Yea, let them come, and not regard their stuff;  
They shall not want, here they shall have enough.  
So Joseph did for them, as he did say;  
And also, gave them Victuals for the way:  
And gave each man, a Change of Raiment then;  
But five, he gave his Brother Benjamin:  
Three hundred Silver pieces, also he  
Did give to him, that he his Love might see:  
And likewise, to his Father did present,  
Ten Asses laden, with the like he sent;  
Ten more with Corn, and Meat; such as was good  
To serve his Father by the way, for Food.  
So they departed; but he thus did say,  
See that you fall not out, now, by the way.  
Then they went up from Egypt, and did haste;  
And to their Father then, they came at last;  
And unto him, this news did quickly tell:  
Joseph's alive (said they) and he is well;  
And more than this, now thou shalt understand,  
He's Governor, and Lord of Egypt Land.  
But Jacob, in the least, Cannot believe;  
His heart doth fail, he can no Credit give:  
They told him all, but still his heart relent,  
Until he saw the things, which Joseph sent  
To fetch him thence; his spirits did revive.  
It is enough (said he) my son's alive.  
Joseph is yet alive, and now will I;  
I will go see my son, before I die.    

CAHP. IX. Being the xlvi. of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Jacob doth preparation make;  
His Egypt Journey, now doth take:  
God by the way, to him appear;  
Bids him go on, and nothing fear:  
And Joseph doth his Father meet,  
In Goshen; they each other greet.   

ANd Israel, Journeyed, with all he had  
To Bersheba; but there some stay he made;  
He, and his household, while he there abode,  
Did sacrifice unto the Lord, his God.  
And in a Vision, while he yet was there,  
God called to him; who answered, I am here.  
I am the Lord, thy Father's did obey;  
Fear not to go to Egypt, he did say;  
I will there make of thee, a Nation great;  
And I will give thee there, a Princely seat;  
I will be with thee, while thou there remain;  
I'll bring thee down, and bring thee up again:  
Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.  
Thus at Jehovahs' word, he did arise;  
And all his sons, they did prepare to carry  
Their Father thence, and did no longer tarry.  
Likewise, their Wives and Children that went,  
Rid in the Chariots then, that Pharaoh sent.  
They took their Goods, and Cattle, they had got  
In Canaan, with them; so they left it not.  
And all his seed, with him to Egypt came;  
His sons and daughters, I for bear to name:  
But all that came with him, both great and small,  
From Canaan, were threescore and six in all.  
Now Joseph had two sons, besides those men:  
So in the whole, they were threescore and ten.  
Then Judah, he before to Joseph sent  
For to prepare a place; so Judah went.  
And Joseph, with his Chariot, came to meet  
His Father; and in Goshen, did him greet:  
Upon his neck he fell, and did embrace;  
And wept upon each other, for a space.  
And Israel said to Joseph, Let me die,  
Now I have seen thy face; for, surely I,  
Have oft lamented for thee, very sore;  
And did not think to see thee any more.  
Then Joseph said, to Pharaoh I will go;  
The truth of all things, to him I will show;  
That thee, and all thy house, are come to me  
From Canaan; he the truth of all shall see.  
That you are Shepherds, he shall understand;  
And that your Flocks, are brought unto this Land.  
And if that Pharaoh do of you inquire,  
To know your trade; if he of you desire;  
Then you shall say, thy servants, of a truth,  
We have been Herdf-men ever from our youth,  
That in the Land of Goshen, you may dwell; hate,  
Because it doth all other far excel:  
Besides, th' Egyptians they do Shepherds  
Throughout their Land; such they abominate.    

CHAP. X. Being the xlvii of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Joseph doth his Breth'rens bring,  
And his Father, to the King:  
Pharaoh, Goshen Land doth give;  
With consent, they there should live.  
Joseph for them do provide,  
Whilst with joy they there Reside.   

THen Joseph came to Pharaoh now, and told,  
My Father, and my Brethren, behold  
Are come to thee, with all that ere they have;  
There Herds and Flocks, that thou their Lives may save;  
They all are come from Canan, unto thee;  
And in the Land of Goshen, now they be.  
And Joseph took five of his Brothers,  
And unto Pharaoh, did present them then:  
So Pharaoh, he enquired of their Trade;  
Thy Servants Shepherds are, they answer made:  
They said, moreover, scarcity at home,  
Hath forced thy Servants hither for to come:  
Thy Servants have no Pasture for our Sheep;  
We could in Canan, Sir, no longer keep;  
Now we entreat thee, therefore, let us dwell  
In th' Land of Goshen; for, we like it well.  
Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph thus, and said,  
Thy Father's Come I see, be not dismayed;  
The Land of Egypt, is at thy Command;  
Give unto him, the chiefest of the Land:  
The Land of Goshen, let him there abide,  
And see, that he of nothing be denied:  
If there be any of Activity,  
Over my , let them Rulers be:  
Then Joseph also, did his Father bring,  
And set him in the Presence of the King:  
So Jacob blest him, and to him did bow;  
And Pharaoh asked him, how old art thou?  
An hundred, and thirty years, (said he)  
My Pilgrim years so few, and evil be,  
That I have not attained, it doth appear,  
Unto the years, that all my Fathers were;  
This being said, he with an humble heart  
Took leave of Pharaoh then, and did departed:  
And Joseph placed his Father, and did give,  
Possessions to his Brothers, to live  
Within the best, and chiefest of the Land,  
In Ram'ses then, as Pharaoh did Command.  
And Joseph, there his Father Nourished,  
His Brothers, and their Households there with Bread,  
Now in the Land, the Famine waxed sore;  
They had no Bread, for they had spent their store:  
So that in Egypt great was the Complaint;  
And Canan, through Extremity, did Faint.  
And Joseph took the money that he found  
In Egypt; for he there had many a pound,  
Which he received for Corn, that there was bought;  
To Pharaohs house to lay it up he brought:  
So then, when money in the Land did fail,  
Th' Egyptians did their Cases thus be wail;  
And said to Joseph, Bread with us is scant;  
Why should we in thy Presence Die for want?  
Then bring your , Joseph said, and I  
Will give you Food for them, you may not die;  
So then, they brought their , and he gave  
Them Bread for them, their Lives thereby to save;  
For all their Herds of , and their Sheep;  
Which fed them for a year, and did them keep:  
But when that year was ended, than they came  
To him the next, and said it is no shame  
For us, to tell, my Lord, we are bereft  
Of all we have, that we have nothing left,  
Saving our Bodies, and our Ground, my Lord;  
We in thy sight, can nothing else afford:  
Why should we Perish under thy Command?  
Buy us for Bread; both we, and all our Land,  
And we to Pharaoh, will be Servants bound;  
So that we may have Seed to sow the Ground,  
We may not Perish while this Famine last;  
Nor that our Land, it may not go to waste.  
Then Joseph bought for Pharaoh, all the Land  
of Egypt then, of the Egyptians Hand;  
Because the Famine was upon them fore,  
Each man did sell their Land to him, therefore:  
So all was Pharaohs, and he did remove  
Those men that Sold their Land, (the Truth to prove)  
From all their Dwellings, through the Land so wide,  
Unto the Cities, there for to abide:  
But now the Priests, their Land, he did not buy,  
Because they need not sell their Lands; for why?  
Their Portion Pharaoh gave, did them relieve;  
They did not sell, what he to them did give.  
Then Joseph to the People thus did say,  
Behold, I now have bought you all this Day,  
And all your Land for Pharaoh; now with speed,  
Go sow your Ground; lo, here I give you Seed:  
And you shall give the fifth of your Increase,  
To Pharaoh; but the fourth, you with Peace,  
You shall enjoy the fourth part to yield  
Food for yourselves, & Seed to sow each Field:  
And for your Households it shall be for Meat,  
For all your Wives, and little Ones, to eat:  
Then they made answer, thou hast saved our Lives;  
Let us find Favour (both we and our Wives)  
In my Lord's sight, and we will Servants be  
To Pharaoh, and will serve him willingly.  
And Joseph made a Law, which to this day,  
stands firm in Egypt never to Decay;  
That Pharaoh, he should have of them the fifth  
of all, except the Priests; which was their Gift.  
And Isr'el, there did dwell in Egypt Land;  
The Land of Goshen, was at his Command;  
He did possess it, and did multiply,  
And grew; and did increase exceedingly:  
And Jacob, seventeen Years there did dwell  
Most sumptuously, in Riches did excel:  
So that the Age of Jacob doth appear,  
To be an hundred forty seven Year:  
Now, when the time drew near, that he should Die,  
He Called his Son to him; and said, If I  
Have in thy sight found Grace, let me command,  
That thou wilt put under my Thigh, thy Hand;  
Let me, my Son, thy Truth Rely upon;  
Lay me not here, when I am Dead and gone:  
But when I Die, then with my Fathers all,  
Bury me with them, in their Burial.  
And Joseph answered him, and said, I will  
Perform my Duty, thy mind to fulfil.  
But Isr'el said to Joseph, Swear my Son,  
Thou wilt perform my Will; So thereupon,  
Joseph did Swear: And Isr'el Worshipped,  
And bowed himself to him, upon the Bed.    

CHAP. XI. Being the lxviii. of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Joseph takes his Sons, and He,  
His sick Father goes to see.  
Jacob, each of them doth Bless;  
Tells him of their good Success:  
Prophesy, the promised Land,  
Will be Restored, by th' Almighty's Hand.   

NOw after this, to Joseph speedily,  
One came, & said, thy Father's like to Die:  
So Joseph hasted, and he took with him,  
His two Sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.  
And also, one told Jacob thus, and said,  
Joseph is come to thee, be not dismayed;  
Then Isr'el, when he had recovered Strength,  
Got up, and sat upon his Bed, at length;  
And said to Joseph, hear my Son I pray,  
What I shall speak to thee, and what I say;  
The Lord Almighty, did to me appear,  
At Luz, in Canan, and did Bless me there;  
And afterwards, thus unto me he spoke,  
And said; Behold, I will thee fruitful make;  
I will thy People multiply (said he)  
And I will make a Number great, of thee:  
I'll give to thee, and to thy Seed therefore,  
This Land; they shall possess for evermore:  
And now thy Sons, which here are Born to thee  
In Egypt, thou shalt give them both to me;  
As Reuben, and as Simeon, they are mine;  
But all thy Issue after, shall be thine.  
Now, when I came from Padan, in the Land  
Of Canan, Rachel Died upon my hand;  
When I from Ephrah, wanted half a day;  
And there I did her Bury, by the way.  
Then Isr'el, Joseph's Sons did there espy,  
He looked on them, as they were standing by;  
And asked Joseph, saying, Whose are these?  
And Joseph said, my Sons, whom God doth please  
To spare alive, His blessings I may see;  
They are my Sons, whom God hath given me.  
Then Isr'el said, before thou take them hence,  
Let me my Blessing, on them both dispense;  
Now Israel with sickness, he did Sage;  
His sight did fail, by Reason of his Age:  
Then Joseph brought them him; and for a space,  
He there did Kiss them, and did them Embrace.  
And then he said to Joseph, I ne'er thought,  
To see thy Face; but God to pass hath brought,  
That he hath also, shown my thy Seed:  
The Lord our God, is Merciful indeed.  
Then Joseph, from his Father's Knees did take  
His Sons, and did Obeisance to him make:  
And Ephraim, than he took in his Right hand,  
Towards his Fathers Left as he did stand:  
And also, took Manasseh in his Left,  
Next Isr'el's Right hand, not to be bereft,  
Nor miss his Right-hand Blessing, thus he thought.  
Then to his Father, both of them he brought;  
But Isr'el, his Right Hand he did Convey,  
And upon Ephraim's Head, he did it Lay;  
And laid his Left Hand then, upon the other;  
Upon Manassehs Head, The Elder Brother,  
And Blessed Joseph, saying, God, before  
Whom all my Fathers Walked, and did Adore,  
Whom Abraham, and Isaac, did obey,  
And he that hath preserved me, to this day;  
The Angel, which Redeemed me from all ill,  
Now Bless the Lad's, and let my Name be still  
On them; and let my Father's Names also,  
Be upon them; and also let them grow  
Unto a Multitude, so great by Birth;  
Their dwelling, in the midst of all the Earth.  
But now, when Joseph saw on Ephraim,  
His Father's Right hand, it displeased him;  
And sought for to remove it thence, upon  
Manasses Head, which was the Eldest Son;  
And Joseph, to his Father, thus did say,  
This is the firstborn, move thy hand, I pray;  
But Isr'el, he refused, and said; I know,  
It is my Son, yet I will not do so;  
Of him, I know, a People great shall be;  
But Ephrahim, shall be greater far, than he:  
So thus he did them bless, upon that day;  
And said, In thee, Isr'ael shall bless, and say;  
The Lord make thee as great, as Ephraim;  
Before Mannasseh, thus preferred him.  
Then Isr'el said to Joseph, I shall die;  
But God is with you, and will not deny  
His gracious Promise; but his mighty hand,  
shall bring you hence, unto your Father's Land;  
And I a blessing more, hath given thee,  
Then all thy Brethren now which living be;  
That I took from the Amorite, my Foe;  
I got it with my Sword, and with my Bow.    

CHAP. XII. Being the xlix. of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Jacob his Sons to him, doth Call;  
Pronounce his Blessings on them all;  
And giveth them, a strict Command,  
To Bury him, in's Native Land;  
Where all his Father's they do Lie:  
So, makes a Blessed end, and Die.   

NOw Jacob Called his Sons, and thus did say,  
Gather yourselves together now, I pray;  
That I may now unfold to you (he says)  
What shall befall you, in the latter days:  
Gather yourselves together. I may tell;  
Come near, and hear your Father Israel.  
RUben, my Eldest Son, my Chief Delight;  
The first beginning of my Strength and might;  
The Excellency of high Dignity  
And of Power, do both belong to thee:  
But now, thou art as unstable, as Water;  
And thou shalt not be excellent hereater;  
Because thou didst defile thy Father's bed,  
Thy Power and Dignity is from thee fled:  
Thou didst defile my Couch; and thereupon,  
Thy Honour and thy Dignity, is gone.   

SImeon, and Levy, Brothers in Ill,  
The Instruments of Cruelty, are still  
Within their Habitations I do fear;  
O thou my Soul, their Secrets come not near;  
Nor let my Honour now, with them be Joined;  
With their Assembly, be not thou Confined;  
For, in their griev'ous Wrath, a Man they Slew;   

And, b'ing self-willed, a Wall they overthrew:  
O Cursed be their Wrath, for it was fierce;  
Their Cruelty, too cruel to express;  
Wherefore, in Jacob, I will them divide,  
And scatter them, in Israel so wide.   

BUt Judah, all thy Brethren, thee shall praise,  
And shall be subject to thee all their days;  
Upon thy Enemies' Neck, thy hand shall be;  
Thy Father's Sons shall all bow down to thee;  
And as a Lion, shall come from the Spoil:  
My Son, he shall lie down and Couch a while:  
And as a Lioness, shall so remain;  
And who shall dare to stir him up again?  
The Sceptre shall not part from Judah's home;  
Nor a Lawgiver, until Shiloh Come:  
To him, all People shall be gathered;  
His People, which throughout the Earth are spread:   

He shall his Asse-Fole bind unto the Vine;  
And wash his Garments, in the Choicest Wine;  
His Eyes with Wine, they likewise shall be red;  
His Teeth with Milk, they shall be whitened.   

ZEbulun, he by the Seaside shall dwell;  
His Haven, for Rich Shipping shall excel;  
And flourishing so splendidly in order,  
Quite unto Zidon, there shall be his border.   

ISsachar, he as a strong Ass shall be,  
Couching between two burdens; & shall see,  
That Rest is good to him; and that the Land  
Is good and pleasant, he shall understand;  
And he to bear, his shoulder he shall bow,  
And shall be subject, Tribute to allow.   

DAn, he shall Judge his People, and excel  
In Honour, like a Tribe of Israel:  
Dan, he shall be a Serpent by the way,  
An Adder by the Path, which in the day,  
To by't the Horse-heels subtly shall Craul,  
To make him stumble, and his Rider fall.   

Then Jacob, with this heavenly Salutation,  
Cried out; O Lord, I wait for thy Salvation!   

GAd, he, an Host of men shall lay him waste;  
But he shall overcome them, at the last.   

ASher, he shall abound in every thing,  
And shall have Pleasure, that befits a King.   

NAphtali shall be let lose, as a Hind.  
And giving fair, and goodly words, most kind.   

JOseph, he shall be like a fruitful Bough,  
Which by a well's side, fruitfully doth grow;  
His tender Boughs, and pleasant Branches, all,  
Shall grow and spread, and run upon the wall:  
The Archers grieved him, and at him shot;  
And though they hated him, they hit him not;  
But still his bow, and hands, in strength abode;  
His Arms were strengthened, by the mighty God:  
Of whom is the chief Stone of Israel;  
That Rich, and precious stone, that doth excel:  
E'en by thy Father's God, who will thee love,  
And will thee bless with blessings from above;  
With blessings here beneath that are to Come;  
With blessings of the Breasts, & of the Womb:  
The blessings of thy Father, hath not failed;  
But far above his Elders, hath prevailed;  
To th' utmost bounds of th' everlasting Hills  
On Joseph's Head, they him with honour fills;  
Upon the Head of him, he that was hated;  
He that was from his Breth'rens, separated.   

BEnjamin, he shall Ravine in the day;  
And in the Morning, shall devour the Prey:  
Like to a fierce Wolf, he at Eventide,  
The spoil which he hath taken, shall divide.   

ALL these, are the twelve Tribes of Israel;  
And this is that, their Father did them tell;  
With several Blessings, each of them did bless:  
And afterwards, thus to them did express;  
I now am ready to be Gathered,  
Unto my People now, when I am Dead,  
Bury me with my Fathers in the Cave;  
In Ephrons' Field (the Hittite,) make my Grave,  
Which is before Mamre, in Canan Land;  
Abr'ham, he bought the same of Ephron's hand:  
He and his Wife, they both were buried there:  
There Isaac, and Rebeckah, buried were:  
And there I buried Leah, after Death:  
The Field was Purchased of the Seed of Heth.  
Thus Jacob made an end of giving charge  
Unto his Sons, his mind hath spoke at large;  
And then, submitting to the Lord of Host,  
Plucked up his Feet, and yielded up the Ghost.    

CHAP. XIV. Being L. of Genesis.  
The Argument.  

Now Joseph, he doth with great Care,  
His Father's Funeral prepare.  
Interrs him in his Native Land,  
As Israel did him Command:  
So he, and all the Royal Train,  
Returns to Egypt back again.   

THen Joseph fell upon his Father's Face,  
And Wept; and his dead Corpses he did Embrace:  
And the Physicians, that with him did dwell,  
They did embalm his Father Israel.  
When Forty days of Mourning were performed,  
So long they Mourned for them, that were Embalmed;  
But th' Egyptians, they did him bewail,  
Seventy Days, their Mourning did not fail:  
And when the days of Mourning, all were passed,  
Joseph, he spoke to Pharoah's House, at last;  
And said, If I have Favour found, I pray,  
Speak in the Ears of Pharaoh now, and say;  
My Father, he did make me to him Swear,  
To bear him hence, and not to lay him here;  
But in his Grave, which is in Canaan Land;  
To lay him there, he gave a great Command:  
And therefore, let me now entreat of thee,  
That this his will, may be fulfilled by me.  
Then Pharaoh said, go, and not lay him here;  
Perform thy Oath, as he did make thee Swear.  
So Joseph, with great diligence, and care,  
A stately Funeral, he did prepare;  
And with, him, went the Chief of all the Land.  
All Pharoah's house, they were at his Command:  
Likewise, his own house, and his Brothers,  
And all his Father's house went with him then;  
Only the Children small, it was his mind;  
Their Sheep, and , such to leave behind:  
Chariots he took, and Horsemen sumptuously;  
With him, went an exceeding Company.  
Now, when they came to Atads threshing floor,  
Which is beyond Jordan, they Mourned sore;  
With grievous Lamentation, there they stays,  
And Mourned for his Father, seven days.  
And when the Canaanites of all the Land,  
Their Mourning saw, amazed they all did stand:  
And afterwards, 'twas called throughout their Nation,  
Th' Egyptians place of grievous Lamentation:  
So thus his sons, as he did them Command,  
With care, interred him in his Native Land.  
And Joseph he returned back again  
To Egypt; he, and all the Royal Train.  
Now, when his breth'rens, saw their father dead,  
They were afraid, and sorely troubled;  
And said, it may be Joseph will us hate;  
Now our Father's dead, hard is our fate:  
Our former trespass he'll remember still,  
And Justly may requite us now with ill.  
Therefore they sent to Joseph, and did say,  
Pardon our former trespass now we pray:  
It 'twas our father's will, while he did live,  
The Sin we did Commit, thou shouldst forgive.  
Let not thy heart against us now be hardened,  
But let that sin we did commit, be pardoned.  
This meek request, made Joseph's heart relent;  
He wept, and said, be you not discontent.  
Then all his breth'rens fell upon their knee,  
To him, and said, Lo, we thy Servants be.  
And Joseph said, am I not under God?  
Do I not know that Vengeance hath a rod?  
When you thought ill, God turned the same to good  
To save your lives, you since have understood.  
Fear not now therefore, I will nourish you,  
Your Wives and Children, as I ought to do.  
Thus he did Comfort them, and told his mind,  
And Spoke to them most Lovingly and Kind;  
Now Joseph he in Egypt still did dwell,  
His Father's house likewise there lived well:  
And Joseph Ephr●ims Sons he there did see,  
His children's Children to the third Degree.  
Likewise the Sons Sons of Manasseh were  
Brought unto Joseph's knees as doth appear:  
Then Joseph said unto his Brothers,  
I now shall die, and God will surely then  
Visit you: And will by his mighty hand  
Bring you from hence; unto your promised land,  
Which he t' Abraham and to Isaac swore,  
And unto Jacob that he would prepare.  
And Joseph made them swear, and said, this do  
My Brothers: When God shall visit you,  
Carry my bones with you; do not dispense  
With them in Egypt, bear them with you hence.  
So Joseph he in Egypt died, when  
His age it was an hundeted years and ten,  
And was embalmed, and put into his Chest;  
Joseph is gone to everlasting rest:  
Glory to God, who is enthroned on high,  
Sing praises to his heavenly Majesty:  
Angels and men his holy Name adore,  
And Hallelujah Sing for evermore.  
Amen.     


The Blessed Virgins Song, Luke 1. Beginning at the 46 verse  

MY Soul doth praise the Lord with meek behaviour,  
My spirit doth rejoice in God my Saviour:  
He hath regarded now the Low estate  
Of his Hand-Maiden, happy is my fate:  
For now behold henceforth it will be expressed,  
All generations still shall call me blest:  
For he that is Almighty, he hath done  
To me great things, who is the Holy One.  
His mercies are on them that do him fear;  
From age to age his goodness doth appear.  
He strength hath showed with his mighty Arm,  
The proud to scatter that imagine harm;  
He hath put down the mighty now I see,  
And hath exalted them of low degree:  
He hath the hungry filled (which go astray)  
With good: the rich hath empty sent away.  
And he hath helped his servant Israel.  
In his abounding mercy that excel:  
As he spoke to our Father's heretofore,  
To Abr'ham and his seed for evermore.  
Hallelujah.    

His Lamentation, beholding London and Westminster, upon the new Monument,  

Which now is raised and built, near to the place  
That dreadful fire first began its race;  
Which for the space of four days did Burn,  
And did our City into Ashes turn;  
And now succeeding Ages may remember,  
To bear in mind the second of September:  
It has a Golden top resembl'ng Fire,  
That all Spectators far and near admire:  
And 'tis for Height, so Stately to behold,  
Above an hundred Paces three times told.  
Upon this sumptuous Pillar I did stand,  
And thus bewailed the Glory of the Land:   

Behold those Cities, how they do abound  
With Sodomires: How they are compassed round,  
And how with Zion they do both reside,  
Stiff, necked and Haughty, and puffed up with pride;  
Like to the Daughters of Jerusalem,  
Our City-Dames may be compared to them;  
With wanton dresses, each of them bedecks,  
And walking daily with forth-stretched necks.  
How unbecoming Christians, how unmeet  
They walk, and make a tinkling with their feet!  
Alas! these Cities! may not we with sorrow,  
Compare them both to Sodom and Gomorrah:  
The greatest sins that were committed there,  
The same, if not far worse, are acted here.  
For why, we sin against a greater Light,  
Living in wanton pleasures day and night.  
Alas! I fear, of us it may be said,  
We worse than Sodom have the wanton played.  
Both great and small profane thy Name O God,  
Yet thou art merciful, and spares thy Rod.  
Let not thy gracious mercies stop our ears,  
But fill our hearts with Grief, our Eyes with Tears,  
We may in Sackcloth weep both day and night,  
And each of us become a Ninivite.  
Lord, when thy servant Jonah thou hadst sent  
To Niniveh, how soon they did repent?  
Let Jonah Lord to us such tidings bring,  
We may Lament with Niniveehs great King.  
And to appease thy Judgements, let us haste  
To put on Sackcloth, and proclaim a Fast:  
For who can tell, if God will spare our City;  
Our sins are great, how can he show us pity?  
O Lord forgive our sins, for they are many;  
And if within our Cities there are any,  
That loves thy Gospel, and do fear thy Name,  
Let them be Pillars to support the same;  
We may not Lord be swallowed up as Korah,  
Nor be destroyed as Sodom and Gomorrah:  
O let thy Gospel flourish, and remain  
Amongst us: let it not be Preached in vain,  
Left in the end, we should become as those  
On whom thou didst pronounce thy dreadful woes;  
Who did revile our blessed Lord and Saviour,  
His glorious teaching, and his meek behaviour:  
Who doubtless Suffers now his dreadful ire,  
The woeful Vengeance of eternal fire.  
O let us not be Citizens with them!  
Let's be a Type of new Jerusalem  
Build up our places waste and desolate,  
Writ Holiness t'thy Self upon each gate:  
O let our gates with righteousness be ba●'d,  
And let thy Holy Angels be our guard!  
Let Abraham entreat for us, and pray;  
And Let just Lot within our City's stay:  
Let Righteousness and Peace each other greet,  
And like a mighty stream run down each-street,  
Then shall we, Lord, thy holy Word embrace;  
Then shall we ever be a Holy Place:  
A place of Mirth in Singing Psalms and Hymns,  
And Heavenly Anthems to th' King of Kings.  
Hasten us Lord, our feet may swiftly run  
The way of peace, so shall thy will be done;  
We may thy glorious Majesty adore,  
And Sing thy praises Lord, for evermore.  
Amen.   

Make haste O Lord, let this thy will be done,  
And hast the Kingdom of thy blessed Son;  
And let us watch, and not asleep be found,  
When thy Arch-Angels shall thy Trumpets sound,  
To raise the dead O Lord, both small and great,  
For to appear before thy Judgement-seat:  
Yea, when thy Trumpets sound, the dead shall rise,  
All mortals shall come to this great Assize;  
The Moon shall lose his light, the stars shall fall  
From heaven; Lord, at this thy dreadful Call  
The Element shall melt! and with a noise,  
Shall pass away at dread Jehovah's voice!  
And then with Power and glory shining Clear,  
The Son of Man shall in the clouds appear;  
Whose glory shines so glorious, and so bright,  
The Sun shall turn to blood, and lose its light:  
And then the Tribes of all the earth shall mourn  
With dreadful fear, to see the Heavens burn;  
Then shall the Righteous shine forth as the fun;  
Whose righteous Race the wicked have out run,  
Who dare not cry, Lord, Lord, have mercy on us;  
But cry out, Rocks and Mountains fall upon us,  
To hid them from the presence of the Lord:  
But Rocks and Mountains shall no place afford.  
No! Kings and Princes shall receive their doom,  
Judges themselves must now to Judgement come.  
No Bribes nor Fees, now, Justice shall take place;  
The Righteous Judge will plead the Poor man's case  
And in his justice, will pronounce this sentence,  
Upon all those that died without Repentance;  
The Whoremonger, the Swearer and the Liar,  
Depart ye Cursed into eternal Fire.  
But to the Righteous, thus the Lord will say,  
Come, come ye blessed into eternal Joy.  
In Joys unspeakable, ever for to Sing  
Sweet Hallelujahs to your heavenly King.  
O, who will not Gods Holy Word obey,  
And tremble at the thoughts of this great day?  
Let's watch and pray, we may ourselves prepare,  
Lest it should come upon us unaware.  
Hallelujah.    

His Verses upon the 5th of November, the 30th. of January, and the 29th. of May.  

For the Fifth of November.  
NOw was that Cursed Jesuite-invention,  
So cruel and so horrid an intention,  
With Romish Powder found out by a Friar,  
Whose Subtlety the Devil might admire!  
A dreadful Blow that quickly would have sent  
Up to the Clouds, our King and Parliament;  
A hellish Plot in secret Wrought by night,  
Which the Almighty's Wisdom brought to light,  
The Papal actions to a sudden shame,  
Blessed for ever be his holy Name.  
Now to this day it's called the Powder plot,  
Throughout this Land, never to be forgot;  
Which day we keep in Memory therefore  
To be observed, till Time shall be no more.   

For the 30th, of January.  
O Day of horror! thou that art confined  
To be forgot; and yet be boar in mind!  
Thou fill'st this Land with grievous Lamentations,  
To be a hissing, to all foreign Nations!  
The very Heathens where we traffic bring,  
Cry out false Traitors, you that killed your King?  
Alas! that Christian's guilty are of that,  
Which Turks and Pagans are amazed at!  
Ah Bloody day! how vile thou dost appear?  
Why art thou in the Number of the Year,  
To be a Blot upon the Christians name?  
And to this Land an Everlasting shame!  
O Lord forgive this great iniquity!  
And let this day a day of Sorrow be:  
A day of Mourning for so great a Crime,  
To after Ages till the end of Time.   

For the 29th, of May.  
THis is the Joyful Birth and Restoration,  
Of our dread Prince the Monarch of this Nation  
This day Lord Monk. with many Nobles more,  
Did all repair to welcome Him on shore;  
Great Multitudes to see the KING this day:  
Were more than thousand's standing by the way,  
Throughout this Land, who could not but admire:  
The Hills and Mountains all were set on fire;  
The Trumpets sound, the Bells most sweetly Ring;  
The People shout, and cry, God save the KING.  
Harmon'ous instruments of Music sweet.  
Melodiously were heard in every Street:  
A day of so great Triumph and of Fame,  
The tongue of man can ne'er declare the same.  
And now the King enjoys his own again:  
God grant him long in Health & Wealth to Reign.   

HAst from the Press, my Muse, salute the spring,  
Chant forth thy Anthems, make the valleys Ring:  
Sing like a Siren, that all comers near thee,  
They may be ravished, and amazed to hear thee.  
Fly thou my little Bird to every Town,  
And see thou put all Wanton Singers down  
With thy sweet voice; where ever thou shalt come,  
They may be silent, and for ever dumb:  
Seek thou no rest, but fly a thousand ways;  
In every Corner sing Jehovah's praise:  
Then all will say, that sit, to hear thee sing,  
Thou art the sweetest Bird of all the spring.    
FINIS.