Now ebbing Day almoft its course had run, And weftern Waves prepar'd to meet the Sun; When the fair Gleaner to her Mother goes,

And what had pafs'd, and what the gain'd, the fhows,

And does her Benefactor's Name disclose :
And when the Fields were of their Burthen
fhorn

And with loud Shouts and ruftic Songs, the Corn
On groaning Wheels to crowded Garner's born ;-
Her wealthy Kinsman, fo their Laws ordain'd,
In childless Chilions room the for her Confort gain'd

CXV.

I SAMUEL, Chap. I. Ver. 11. Chap. II. Ver. 1. to II.

Elkanah and Hannah. Samuel born. Hannah's Song.

Uft Elkanah of holy Levi's Race,

Whofe Life did ne're his Character difgrace; The pious Hannah chose his beautious Bride, But Heav'n to both their Vows a Son deny'd : To facred Shilah yearly they repair,

To pay their Gifts and pure Oblations there;
She griev'd, the wept, fhe pour'd her pious Pray'r
Before the Oracle, nor pray'd in vain,

A welcom Heir her ardent Vows obtain:
Samuel his Name--- from Heav'n fhe him implor'd,
And to the Pow'r that gave, agen reftor'd:

A

A Nazarite of God did him defign,
Eftrang'd from fuming Bowls of tempting Wine
No Razor muft his hallow'd Locks invade,
Or the long Honours of his Hair degrade,
And guilty of her Vows, her Vows the pay'd:
When wean'd to Shiloh brought and left him there,
Entrufted to the Rev'rend Eli's care;

Then thus with well according Heart and Tongue,
She God's high Praise in deathless Numbers fung.

'In God, my Saviour, O my Soul, rejoyce! Awake my vocal Lyre! awake my tuneful Voice! Thee, Holy! Holy! Holy! Thee alone, ⚫ Officious Angels ferve, around thy Throne.

'Infult no more, ye hard of Heart and proud! Reftrain your Tongues,nor talk fo fierce and loud! • For God's impartial Eye the World furveys, • With equal Juftice every Action weighs.

The mighty Bows, which mighty Arms did wield, Unftring'd and broke are fcatter'd round theField. O God of Strength, by thee the weak are rais'd, The Hungry fill'd, the Rich and Proud debas'd: The barren Womb a num'rous Offspring fills, "Tis he that makes alive, 'tis he that kills: 'Tis his alone, or Poor or Rich to make, He from the Dunghil does the Lazars take. O Scorn of human Pride! with Princes feat, And ftamp him honourable there, and great: Thofe Pillars of the World are his alone,

They prop the Universe, and he fupports their Throne.

To gloomy Shades th' Unjuft fhall be confin'd, His Foes fhall God's fierce Wrath to pieces grind :

While from his angry Throne th' unerring Darts, With Vengeance wing'd, fhall pierce their faithlefs Hearts.

'O're all the World shall he extend his sway, 'And all the World his Great Meffiah's Laws obey.

CXVI.

Eli's weak Government. A Prophet reproves him.

LD Eli now Great Aaron's Ephod wears, Scarce equal to his Honours and his Cares: Contempt alone his eafie Goodness gains, While with too fack a Hand he holds the Reins. Two Sons he had, now happy had he none! Whofe Crimes their Country's ruin, and their own. Thofe Sons of Belial wou'd not know the Lord, They made his Off'rings, by the Crowd abhor'd, Rapine and Luft for Deities ador'd:

Yet when reprov'd by their indulgent Sire,

Softly he touch'd the Wound which did require

The deepest Search, the Lancet and the Fire.

Not fo to him, a Man of God, who came,
And thus from injur'd Heav'n did War proclaim.
Did I thy Father's Houfe in Egypt chufe?
Did I by them my Peoples Bondage loofe?
Did I for this the stronger Tribes refuse?
And favour'd Aaron feparate alone,

To wear my Ephod and approach my Throne ?

で

}

Nor

CXVI.

I SAMUEL, Chap. II. Ver. 12. to 33.

215

Ver. 27. There came a man of God unto Eli, and faid unto him, Thus faith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the boufe of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

28. And did I chufe him out of all the tribes of Ifrael to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incenfe, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the boufe of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Ifrael?

29. Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice, and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honoureft thy fsons above me, &c.

Nor this unpay'd--- with Sacrifices fed,
He fhar'd my Table and he eat my Bread:
And will not these your greedy Wish suffice,
That ye my Off'ring, and my Houle despise,
And trample on my daily Sacrifice?

I faid, thy Father's Houfe fhou'd ftill be mine,
'Tis you are chang'd, and from my Paths decline:
Jehovah ever was, and is the fame,

He honours those who honour his dread Name,
Whilst all who him despise, stand manifest of
Shame.

The Day, the dreadful Day approaches near,
When from thy Shoulder I thy Arm will tear:
Will wither all thy Houses Pride and Joy,
And in their Flow'r of Life thy impious Sons destroy.

CXVII.

The Lord calls Samuel, who prophefies the
Deftruction of Eli's Houfe.

Was Night, and all in Glent Slumbers laid,
The Lamp of God fhone faintly thro' the
Shade:

Old Eli his dim Eyes did newly close,
Ev'n Samuel Dept, indulging foft repose :
Nor had the Lord to Samuel yet appear'd,
But now a ftill fmall, awful Voice he heard,
His Name repeating--- he to Eli ran,
Who call'd him not, but bids him reft again!
Thrice was the Voice repeated, thrice he rose,
And thro' the folemn Shades to Eli goes;

At