out

4. He made it a molten calf: and they faid, thefe be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up of the land of Egypt.

5. And when Aaron faw it, he built an altar before it, and Aaron made proclamation and Said, to morrew is a feaft to the Lord.

En 6. And they rofe up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings: and the people fat down to eat, and to drink and rofe up to play. 19. As foon as Mofes came nigh unto the camp, and Saw the calf, and the dancing; Moles anger waxed hot, and he caft the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount, &c.

Low on the Ground the trembling Prophet falls, And on th' offended Pow'r for Mercy calls d His Truth and Glory pleads, nor pleads in vain, A kind Reprieve his ferven: Pray'rs obtain.M Then from the Mount defcends as Heav'n commands With both the Sacred Tables in his Hands: Approach'd the Camp he did too foon defcry, f Their New-born Golden Idol plac'd on high: / Riot and Shouts his feftal Pomp proclaim, Lewd Dances fpread his Glory and their Shame, The Saint did all with just Refentments view, And from his Hands the heav'nly Treasure threw; Against the craggy Rock the Tables brake; Then did their Calf, their helpless Idol take, Moulten and ground to Duft, the Duft he ftrows Upon the Brook which from the Mountain flows: Then brings his fond Adorers to the Brink, And makes 'em of the cdious Potion drink: Nor this enough to expiate their ftain,

Till Thousands of th' Unjust by Zealous Levi flain,

LXVII.

Aaron's Vestments. His Offerings.

A

ND now behold the holy Veftments grace Great Aaron, and his confecrated Race: Of pureft Linnen twin'd his Mitre made, A glorious Ephod o'r his Shoulders laid: Light and Perfection on his Breast he wears, And near his Heart the Names of Ifrael bears,

On richeft Gems within the Folds enchas'd,
Which as he mov'd a dazling Splendor caft.
In finest Linnen clad his Sons appear,

Miters their Heads, their Shoulders Ephods wear.
Ineftimable Unguents largely thed.

Surround the Holy Pontiff's rev'rend Head,
Thence to his Robes defcend, and icatt'ring there
With fragrant Odours fill the Ambient Air:
Thus vefted, he his Offerings makes t'atone »»
At once the Peoples Errors, and his own:
An Holocauft upon the Altar lays,

And next the peaceful Minchas chearful blaze:
Pure Incense laft within the Veil he burns,
Then Mofes joyns, and to the Crowd returns,
Whom both with lifted Hands they bleis- when fee,
To firm their Pray'rs a welcome Prodigie!
Th'illumin'd Cloud is fill'd with golden Streams,
Which drown the fainter Suns retiring Beams;
From whence large Sheets of pure Etherial Flame
Shot thro' the Clouds and inftantaneous came;
Confume the Fat which on the Altar lies,
Confume at once the grateful Sacrifice.

Low on the Ground th' aftonish'd People fell, And with loud Shouts they praife the God of Ifrael.

LEVITICUS, Chap. VIII. from Ver. 5. to 10. Chap. IX.

V.5. This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done.

6. And Mofes brought Aaron and his fons, and wafhed them with water, &c,

to bear,

They faw no friendly Blaze to Heav'n afpire,
They faw the Smoak in gloomy Curls retire,
Their Incense kindled with unhallow'd Fire.
But from th' affronted Oracle there came
In rolling Clouds a more than Lambent Flame,
Which feiz'd th' audacious as too late they fled,
Reveng'd their Sacrilege, and left 'em dead,
Their Robes untouch'd Thus Lightnings won-
drous Fire,

Which melts the Blade the Scabbard leaves entire. When Mofes thus to their fad Kindred spoke, Reftrain your Tears, nor mourn this dreadful Stroke. From Heav'n it comes, 'tis juft, tho' 'tis fevere, For thus Jehova did his Willdeclare.

es

"Let those who my dread Courts approach, beware,

Xstag

Holy as I am Holy, Clean, and Pure, "Nor can the fmalleft Stain of Sin endure. Prefume not then your Brethren to lament, Cover'd your Heads, nor fhall your Cloaths be rent, Left while th' anointing Sacred Oyl you bear, And that with Grief pollute, their Fates you fhare. Nor

Sepulch they fall unmourn'd, for Heav n ordains

Sepulchral Honours to their great Remains:
All Ifrael fhall their Obfequies attend,

Bemoan their rafh Attempt, and their untimely End..

LXVIII.

LXVIII

LEVITICUS, Chap. X. Ver. 1. to 7.

123

v. 1. Nadab and Abihu, the fons of Aaron, took either of them his cenfer, and put fire therein, and put incenfe thereon,and offered ftrange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.

t

And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3. Then Mofes faid unto Aaron: this is that the Lord fpake, faying, I will be fanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glo rified.