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Jefus compted of the Devil.

NOW Jefus by the facred Spirit led

A Glorious Hermit to the Defart fled : Him Hunger firft, the Tempter then affail, In hopes or'e weakn'd Nature to prevail : If thou th' Eternal Son of God, he faid, Exert thy Power, and bid these Stones be Bread! Repuls'd, he to the Temple Roof did bear Our patient Lord, and thus accoft him there : If thou the Son of God, leap fearless hence, Thy Father's Angels will be thy defence: Still baffled, ftill he urg'd his curs'd Design, Do but adore me, all the World is thine. Our Saviour thus, Tempter blafpheme no more! Tis writ, The Lord thy God alone adore!

As Thunder ftruck he fled, this anfwer.giv'n,

And in his room attend their Lord, the Hoft of Heaven.

IX.

St. MATTH. Chap. IV. ^ Verv1, 2,&c.

1. Then was Jefus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil.

2. And when he had fafted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards an hungred

3. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that thefe ftones be made bread.

4. But he answered and faid, It is written, man fhall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, &c.

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XI

The Sermon on the Mount, ar, the
Beatitudes:

ND now unnumber'd Crowds together draw,

AND

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To whom he thus unfolds his facred Law. Thrice blefs'd the Poor in Spirit he first declares, A glorious heav'nly Kingdom fhall be theirs. Blefs'd are those Mourners who their Sins confefs, Nor will I leave thofe Mourners comfortless. Blefs'd are the Meek, who fure Rewards shall gain, In the New Earth and Heav'n fhall with me reign. Bless'd all who after Righteousness afpire, For Heav'n will fill thir most enlarg'd defire. Blefs'd are the Merciful, the Mild, the Kind, Who when they need themselves, fhall Mercy find. Blefs'd are the Pure in Heart, for they shall fee Th' Eternal Beatific Purity.

Blefs'd are their Names who make all Difcord

ceafe,

The genuine Sons of him who is the God of Peace,

XI.

St. MATTH. Ch. V. Ver.3,4,5,6,7,8,9.

17.

3. Bleffed are the poor in Spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4. Bleffed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5. Bleffed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth, &c.

8. Blaffed are the pure in heart; for they fball fee God.

9. Bleffed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God.

XII

Bleffing on fuch as fuffer in the Caufe of Religion.

BUT, (he goes on) those above all the rest,

Who fuffer in fair Virtue's Caufe, are Blefs'd: Thrice blefs'd are ye when fcorn'd, blasphem'd, revil'd,

The baseft, worst of Men efteem'd and ftil'd, You know your Friend, for whom you undergo The worst of Scandals, your reward you know. Let boundless Joy your ravish'd Hearts poffefs: Indulge it here, for here is no Excess.

See yonder glorious Hoft, not far before,

Who once unmov'd the fame Afflictions bore; How pleas'd! how bright! of endless Palms poffefs'd

In Abraham's Bofom they securely rest: 20
Their never-fading Laurels you shall share,
Companions in the Triumph, as in War:
For light Afflictions weighty Bliss fhall gain,
Crown'd with no vulgar Stars in endless Glory
reign.

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