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XXXV.

Children call'd, and Meeknefs recommended.

Ambition now the chosen Twelve divides,

Which fhou'd be firft, which thus our Lord decides:

A little Child he to himself did call,

And fets him in the midst amongst 'em all;
Then thus (when him he in his Arms had plac'd,
And with a Mother's Tenderness embrac'd.)
If you'd be great, hence your Example take,
This Innocence you muft your Pattern make.
If you the heav'nly Kingdom hope to gain,
And with me in my Father's Glory reign;
Let fond Ambition pass, be meek and mild,
And teachable, and humble like this Child.
Wo to the wretch who one of these offends,
How juft, how dire a Fate his Crimes attends!
Far better for him that he found a Grave,

A thousand Fathom deep beneath the briny Wave.

XXXV.

St. MATTH. Chap. XVIII. Ver. 2,

3, 4.

2. Jefus called a little child unto him, and fet bim in the midst of them,

3. And faid, Verily I fay unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4. Whosoever therefore fhall humble himself as this little child, the fame is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

F 4

XXXVI.

XXXVI.

The King who took account of his Servants.

A King there was, whom, tho' both Wife and

Great,

His faithlefs Servants long confpir'd to cheat; Tho' long they reign'd, discover'd at the last, He asks a strict Account of all that's past; And with the greatest Villain first begun, Who twice five thoufand Talents had out-run: Infolvent found he bids 'em take away, And fell the Wretch, the vaft Account to pay; Low at his Feet the Hypocrite did fall, Have Patience with me, and I'll pay thee all. Mov'd with Compaffion, him his Lord forgave, And from his juftly threaten'd Fates did fave; What yet remain'd, advis'd him to improve, As he'd regain his Confidence and Love. O'rc-joy'd and free he from his prefence went,

Bow'd low, and promis'd fair, but no Perfor

mance mcapt.

XXXVI.

St. MATTH. Chap. XVIII. Ver. 23,

to 27.

36.

23. The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king which would take account of his fer

vants.

24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which cught him ten thousand talents.

25. But forafmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be fold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made, &c.

XXXVII. ...

The cruel Fellow-fervant deliver'd to
Torment.

TOO foon did he his Fellow-servant find,
From whom, as chanc'd, a trifling Sum behind,
An hundred Pence was on Account unpaid;
Throttling he feiz'd, and did the Wretch upbraid;
Who clafp'd his Feet, his Patience did implore,
And us'd the Plea, the other did before;
But us'd in vain, it now could find no Room,
A loathfom Goal his unrelenting Doom;
The rest commiserate his hapless Fate,
And to their Lord with speed the whole relate :
Enrag'd he did the Wretch remand in hafte,
And thus th' irrevocable Sentence pass'd;
Cruel and Wicked! thy Request I heard,
And hadft thou no Compaffion, no Regard
To other's Prayers! Hence, from my fight away,
In Dungeons mourn, till thou the Debt do pay.
Such Measure shall they from high Heav'n receive,
Whofe Hearts with Rancor fill'd, their Brother not
forgive.

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