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النشر الإلكتروني

LXVI.

The barren Fig-tree cursed.

Long abftinent, our Lord to faint began

For fuch his Frame, in all but Sin, like Man: As chanc'd a Fig-tree near the Road he spy'd, Whose verdant Leaves, and Boughs extended wide, Oft call'd the weary Trav'ler fro his Way, And promis'd Fruit they never meant to pay. Thither he goes, the Tree his Hopes deceives, And nothing found he there but taftlefs Leaves: No Fruit, he faid, hereafter on thee grow, Nor fhalt thou more deceive with empty show: When from the Town ith' morning they return'd, Th' Apoftles faw it wither'd, fear'd, and burn'd, As blafted with the Lightnings piercing Flame, Or Winds that from the fultry Defart came. With Wonder ftruck- How foon 'tis gone they cry'd!

Is this so strange, our Lord again reply'd?

Have but firm Faith in Ged, you All things may,

This Mountain bid remove, this Mountain shall

obey.

LXVI.

St. MARK Chap. XI. Ver. 12, 13, 14.

12. When they were come from Bethany, he was hungry.

13. And feeing a fig-tree afar off, having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

14. And Fefus answered and said unto it, No man cat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.

LXVII.

The Widow and her two Mites."

AS in the Womens Court our Lord was plac'd,

And faw the Gifts were into Corban caft;

Handfuls of Gold, which they take care to show To all around, the Rich profufely throw;

So large, as tho' they thought just Heav'n to move,
And buy their Pardons in the Court above:
When now the wealthier Crowd had left the Place,
A needy Widow with dejected Face

Offer'd her two poor Mites, 'twas all her store,
And blufh'd, and inward figh'd she had no more.
Nor unconcern'd did this our Saviour fee,
But prais'd the Widow's generous Poverty :
The reft but their fuperfluous Wealth had thrown,
Nor wou'd their Coffers mifs it when 'twas gone:
To her two Mites, their Talents were but small,
For more the could not give, who freely gave her
ALL.

LXVII

St. MARK Chap. XII. Ver. 42, 43, 44.

42. There came a certain poor widow, and fhe threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43. And he called unto him his difciples, and faith unto them, Verily I Say unto you, that this poor widow hath caft more in, than all they which have caft into the treasury.

44. For all they did caft in of their abundance: but he of her want did caft in all that she had, even all her living.

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LXVIIL

LXVIII

The Deftruction of the Temple foretold.

S thro' the lofty Eaftern Gate they go,

AS

Our Lord the Temple his Disciples show; What Stones, what Building's here, how Firm, how Vaft!

Sure these as long as Time itself muft laft.
To whom our Lord-- Such flatt'ring Hopes a-

way

The Day approaches faft, the dreadful Day
When all this lofty Pile that threats the Sky
Shall bury'd in its own vaft Ruins lie.
Trembling,they ask him when, and what the Sign?
---Nation shall against Nation first combine;
Rumours of Wars the guilty World affright,
The Heav'ns be fill'd with many a fearful Sight:
In Earth's dark Caverns ftruggling Whirlwinds

meet,

The hollow Ground shake underneath your Feet.
But when the holy Place profan'd you fee,
Look not behind, but to the Mountains flee.
From Fields and Houfes Tops fly fwift away,
Nor for your unavailing Treasure stay.
Till then, be on your Guard with cautious Fear,
Left when you leaft expect the Son of Man appear.

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