23 To Egypt then, invited guests, half-famish'd Israel came;

And Jacob, held by royal grant,

the fertile soil of Ham.

24 Th' Almighty there with such increase his people multiply'd,

Till with their proud oppressors they

in strength and number vied.

25 Their vast increase th' Egyptians' hearts
with jealous anger fir'd,

Till they his servants to destroy
by treach'rous arts conspir'd.

26 His servant Moses then he sent,
his chosen Aaron too,

27 Empower'd with signs and miracles

to prove their mission true.

28 He call'd for darkness, darkness came, nature his summons knew ;

29 Each stream and lake, transform'd to blood,
the wand'ring fishes slew.

30 In putrid floods, throughout the land,
the pest of frogs was bred;
From noisome fens sent up to croak
at Pharaoh's board and bed.

31 He gave the sign, and swarms of flies
came down in cloudy hosts;
Whilst earth's enliven'd dust below
bred lice through all their coasts.
32 He sent them batt'ring hail for rain,
and fire for cooling dew;

33 He smote their vines, and forest plants,
and garden's pride o'erthrew.

34 He spake the word and locusts came, and caterpillars join'd;

They prey'd upon the poor remains
the storm had left behind.

35 From trees to herbage they descend,
no verdant thing they spare;
But, like the naked fallow field,
leave all the pastures bare.

36 From fields to villages and towns,
commission'd vengeance flew ;
One fatal stroke their eldest hopes
and strength of Egypt slew.

37 He brought his servants forth, enrich'd with Egypt's borrow'd wealth;

6 But ah! can we expect such grace, Of parents vile the viler race;

Who their misdeeds have acted o'er,
And with new crimes increas'd the score?
7 Ingrateful, they no longer thought
On all his works in Egypt wrought;
The Red Sea they no sooner view'd,
Than they their base distrust renew'd.
8 Yet he, to vindicate his name,

Once more to their deliv'rance came;
To make his sov'reign power be known,
That he is God, and he alone.

9 To right and left, at his command,
The parting deep disclos'd her sand
Where firm and dry the passage lay,
As through some parch'd and desert way.
10 Thus rescu'd from their foes they were,
Who closely press'd upon their rear;
11 Whose rage pursu'd them to those waves,
That prov'd the rash pursuers' graves.
12 The wat'ry mountains' sudden fall

O'erwhelm'd proud Pharaoh, host and all;
This proof did stupid Israel move

To own God's truth, and praise his love.

PART II.

13 But soon these wonders they forgot,
And for his counsel waited not;
14 But lusting in the wilderness,

Did him with fresh temptations press.
15 Strong food at their request he sent,
But made their sin their punishment;
16 Yet still his saints they did oppose,
The priest and prophet whom he chose.
17 But earth, the quarrel to decide,
Her vengeful jaws extending wide,
Rash Dathan to her centre drew,
With proud Abiram's factious crew.
18 The rest of those who did conspire,
To kindle wide sedition's fire,

With all their impious train, became A prey to heaven's devouring flame. * 19 Near Horeb's mount a calf they made, And to the molten image pray'd; 20 Adoring what their hands did frame,

They chang'd their glory to their shame. 21 Their God and Saviour they forgot,

And all his works in Egypt wrought;

22 His signs in Ham's astonish'd coast, And where proud Pharaoh's troops were lost. 23 Thus urg'd, his vengeful hand he rear'd, But Moses in the breach appear'd;

The saint did for the rebels pray,

And turn'd heaven's kindled wrath away. 24 Yet they his pleasant land despis'd, Nor his repeated promise priz'd,

25 Nor did the Almighty's voice obey,
But when God said, Go up, would stay.
26 This seal'd their doom, without redress,
To perish in the wilderness;

27 Or else to be by heathens' hands

O'erthrown and scatter'd through the lands.
PART III.

28 Yet, unreclaim'd, this stubborn race
Baal-Peor's worship did embrace;
Became his impious guests, and fed
On sacrifices to the dead.

29 Thus they persisted to provoke
God's vengeance to the final stroke:
'Tis come---the deadly pest is come,
To execute their gen'ral doom.
30 But Phineas, fir'd with holy rage,
Th' Almighty vengeance to assuage,
Did, by two bold offenders' fall,
Th' atonement make that ransom'd all.
31 As him a heavenly zeal had mov'd,
So heaven the zealous act approv'd;
To him confirming, and his race,
The priesthood he so well did grace.
32 At Meribah God's wrath they mov'd,'
Who Moses, for their sakes, reprov'd;
33 Whose patient soul they did provoke,
Till rashly the meek prophet spoke.
34 Nor, when possess'd of Canaan's land,
Did they perform their Lord's command,
Nor his commission'd sword employ
The guilty nations to destroy.
35 Not only spar'd the pagan crew,
But, mingling, learnt their vices too;
36 And worship to those idols paid,

Which them to fatal snares betray'd.
37, 38 To devils they did sacrifice
Their children with relentless eyes;
Approach'd their altars through a flood
Of their own sons' and daughters' blood.
No cheaper victims would appease
Canaan's remorseless deities;

No blood her idols reconcile,
But that which did the land defile.

PART IV.

39 Nor did these savage cruelties The harden'd reprobates suffice;

For after their heart's lust they went,
And daily did new crimes invent.
40 But sins of such infernal hue

God's wrath against his people drew,
Till he, their once indulgent Lord,
His own inheritance abhorr'd.
41 He them defenceless did expose
To their insulting heathen foes;
And made them on the triumph wait
Of those who bore them greatest hate.
42 Nor thus his indignation ceas'd;

Their list of tyrants still increas'd,
Till they, who God's mild sway declin'd,
Were made the vassals of mankind.
43 Yet when distress'd, they did repent,
His anger did as oft relent;

But freed, they did his wrath provoke, Renew'd their sins, and he their yoke. 44 Nor yet implacable he prov'd,

Nor heard their wretched cries unmov'd; 45 But did to mind his promise bring, And mercy's inexhausted spring. 46 Compassion too he did impart E'en to their foes' obdurate heart; And pity for their suff'rings bred In those who them to bondage led. 47. Still save us, Lord, and Israel's bands Together bring from heathen lands: So to thy name our thanks we'll raise, And ever triumph in thy praise. 48 Let Israel's God be ever bless'd, His name eternally confess'd; Let all his saints, with full accord, Sing loud Amens---Praise ye the Lord.

PSALM CVII.

1 O God your grateful voices raise, who does your daily Patron prove;

And let your never-ceasing praise attend on his eternal love.

2, 3 Let those give thanks, whom he from bands of proud oppressing foes releas'd;

And brought them back from distant lands, from north and south, and west and east. 4, 5 Through lonely desert ways they went, nor could a peopled city find;

Till quite with thirst and hunger spent, their fainting souls within them pin'd. 6 Then soon to God's indulgent ear,

did they their mournful cry address; Who graciously vouchsaf'd to hear, and freed them from their deep distress.