CLXV.

IKINGS, Chap. XII. from Ver. 1. to Ver. 19.

355

Ver. 16. When all Ifrael faw that the king hearkned not to them, the people answered the king, Saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the Son of Jeffe: to your tents, O Ifrael: now fee to thine own boufe, David. Sa Ifrael departed unto their tents.

17. But as for the children of Ifrael which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18. Then king Rehoboam fent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Ifrael ftoned him with ftones, that he died: therefore king Rehoboam made Speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerufalem. A a 2

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CLXVI.

Jeroboam made King of Ifrael. His Idolatry. A Prophet prophefies against Difobeys God's Command :

bis Altar
Is flain by a Lion.

7Ith ease th' Affembly Nebat's Son perfuades,

Th' Ambitious Chief his Mafter's Throne
invades:

To his new Governments new Gods he makes,
For Priests the meanest of the People takes:
A King's Religion feldom fails to please,
When back'd with Int'reft, Novelty and Eafe:
Yet to his golden Calves, Prescription He B
Pretends, and Primitive Idolatry:

The fame their Fathers had in Horeb fought,
The fame their Ancestors from Egypt brought.
Their Holy Sees at Dan and Bethel plac'd,
Tho' Bethel with the Royal Prefence grac'd:
While there the King himself the Pontiff turns,
And Incenfe at his Idol-Altar burns, de el L
A Man of God infpir'd from Judah came,
And boldly thus his Meffage did proclaim:

O Altar! tho' thy Horns are rais'd on high,
And dare with that in God's own Temple vie;

A Royal Youth from David's Line shall rise,
Tho' Ifrael David's Linage now defpife!
Who in thy Fire thy Priests shall facrifice;
Thy Groves deftroy'd, and thou with Bones defil'd,
JOSIAH fhall they call the wondrous Child:
Nor uncommanded this, nor wants a Sign,
To prove my Miffion and my Words divine:
Behold th' unhallow'd Altar foon fhall rend,
Its fcatter'd Afbes to the Duft defcend!

Seize, feize the Wretch, enrag'd, the Tyrant

cries,

Who dares at once my Gods and me defpife!
By Dan's and Bethel's boly Calves he dies;

With out-stretch'd Hand the Propher strives to take,

But feels the vital Warmth hisHand forfake,
Sere, as the Branch of fome old Monarch-Oak,
Blafted like him by Heaven's refiftless Stroke:
With Thunder long in Nature's Caverns pent,
Bellowing beneath, till now it forc'd a Vent,
His Altar's from its firm Foundations rent:
A Show'r of Afbes thence is scatter'd round,
And fills the troubled Air, and hides the Ground.

How weak are mortal Gods, when they pretend,
With him who made 'em vainly to contend!
The Monarch at the Prophet's Feet did fall,
And begs he wou'd to Heav'n for Mercy call:

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Mildly

Mildly he grants, and prays, nor prays in vain,
For God his wither'd Hand reftores again;
He feels the chearful Blood fhoot warm through
ev'ry Vein;

Then this kind Healer did to Court invite,
And wou'd with Royal Bounty him requite,

Not if I half the Palace might receive,
So ftrict a Charge did he who fent me give:
Nor Bread nor Water muft I dare to taste,
But from this Place profan'd with Idols hafte :
Thus he, and happy had he thus remain'd,
But by an hofpitable Fraud detain'ḍ,

}

Too long in those forbidden Walls he stays,
And dearly for his Difobedience pays :
A dreadful Meffenger obftructs his way,
Who better did the Will of Heav'n obey.
Behold him there the Kingly Lion's Prey!
Nor further his Commiffion gave him Pow'r,
He dar'd not feize his Beaft, nor dar'd the Man
devour.

CLXVI.

I KINGS, Chap. XII. Ver. 20. and 27. Chap. XIII. Ver. 23,

to the End.

243,25.

Chap. XIII. Ver.23. And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he Saddled for him the afs, to wit, for the prophet whom be bad brought back.

24. And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and flew him: and his carcass was cast in the way, and the afs ftood by it, the lion alfo ftood by the carcass. 25. And behold, men paffed by, and saw the carcafs caft in the way, and the lion ftanding by the carcafs and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt,

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CLXVII