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XLV.

The Marriage-Feaft, and the unworthy
Guests.

A Monarch who with regal Pomp and State,
The Nuptials of his Son would celebrate,
His Servants fent t' invite the Country round,
But all with one confent Excufes found:
The firft had Oxen which he never faw,
And them he needs muft go to prove and draw.
The second had a Purchase newly made,
And begs his Patience till his Grounds furvey'd:
The third his Bride had juft conducted home,
For him, he cou'd not, nor he wou'd not come:
The reft dispatch'd the Meffengers employ'd.
Juftly enrag'd the King, th' ungrate destroy'd,
And fends his Servants, worthier Guests to find,
Who bring the Poor, the Lame, the Maim'd, the
Blind.

Amidft the crowded Room a Wretch appears,
Who in contempt a fordid Garment wears.
The King commands to feize, and binds him faft,
And into Dungeons deep, and utter Darkness caft.

XLV.

St. MATTH. Chap. XXII. Ver.2,to 13.

45.

2. A certain king made a marriage for his fon,&c. 11. And when the king came in to fee the guests, be faw there a man which had not on a weddinggarment:

12. And he faith unto him, Friend, how cameft thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment? And he was Speechless.

13. Then faid the king to the fervants, Bind him band and foot, and take him away, and caft him into outer darkness: there fhall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

XLVI.

The Question of the Pharifees concerning Tribute answer'd.

THE

HE Herodians and the Pharifees combine, T'intrapour Lord was their accurfs'd Defign, And thus accoft him--- Rabbi! well we know, Thou doft the Way of Truth to Mortals show: To Fear a Stranger, vice thou doft not spare, Despise the Mean, nor for the greatest Care. Inform us then, shall we to Cefar pay,

Whom now compell'd the chosen Race obey, That Tribute which with harsh and rig'rous Hand, His impious Publicans of us demand ?

Their Wickedness from him they could not hide, Who all things knows, and cautious thus reply'd. You Hypocrites! in vain, why tempt you me ? The queftion'd Tribute-Money let me fee! They brought a Piece, he asks 'em whofe the Coin, And whofe th' Infcription? Cefar's they rejoyn. To Cefar whence Protection they receive, He bids 'em pay his Due, to God they God's mult

give.

XLVI.

St. MATTH. Chap. XXII. Ver. 19,

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19. Shew me the tribute-money. And they brought unto him a peny.

20. And he faith unto them, Whofe is this image and Superfcription?

21. They say unto him, Cefar's. Then faid he unto them, Render therefore unto Cefar, the things which are Cefar's: and unto God, the things that are God's.

XLVII.

The Signs of Chrift's coming to Judgment.

ON lofty Olivet beneath the shade,

Whence the devoted City he furvey'd; Our Saviour fat, th' Apoftles him attend,

And ask'd him trembling, when the World muft

End,

And he to Judgment come? He thus replies, --Be not deceiv'd, for Nation first must rise, Encountring Nation, Plagues and Famine reign, But the beginning of their hopeless Pain.

E'en you, my

you, my Friends, who Heav'n's Commands obey,

Hated of all, and all shall you betray.

The fpatious Globe my facred Law must hear,
And then prepare, for then the End is near:
The Sun fhall to eternal Shades defcend,
The Moon her fhorter Year for ever end:
The Son of Man amidst the Clouds appear,
And all the conscious Earth shall shake for fear;
Th' Angelic Guards discharge their weighty Truft,
And from a flaming World, collect and fave the

Juft.

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