The Spies and Bunch of Grapes.
'N Canaans Southern Bounds glad Ifrael stand
And of their Rulers fend to search the Land : By ancient Hebrons Tow'rs they took their way And those tall Hills which round proud Febus lay; Thence to delightful Jericho they came,
The City' of Palm-Trees, widely known to Fame: O'r Kifhon's Foords, near Tabor's Mount and Fields, Kishon, which to fair Jordan only yields,
The founding Shores of Cinnereth furvey;
Their Journey thence to Jordan's Fountains lay,
Which under hoary Libanus arise,
Whose Ridges bound the Land,and threat the Skies.
Returning they to fruitful Ecol came,
Thence Efocol ftil'd, before unknown to Fame: 'Twas now the Time when Nature in her Pride
That happy Land with gen'rous Fruits fupply'd: With Golden Cheeks the rich Pomgranates thine, And tempting Grapes load each luxuriant Vine.
v. 17, &c. Mofes fent men to fpie out the land of Canaan, and faid, get you up, and fee the land what it is, whether it be good or bad, fat or lean, &c.
23. And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomgranates, and of the figs.
24. The place was called the brook Ehcol, because f the cluster of grapes which the children of Ifrael cut down from thence.
Of these they a vaft Clufter with 'em bear,
Th'enormous weight Two of the Strongest share,
Brought on a knotty Staff with Sweat and Pain,
The knotty Staff cou'd scarce the the Load fuftain
Full Forry Days expir'd at length they come
In an unlucky Hour to Paran home.
The Land, they must confefs, was rich and good
Exuberant every where with Fruit and Food,
And all the needs of Life; But ftill they muft
In their Accounts impartial be, and juít,
And not betray the Peoples weighty Truft:
They were not fond of War, nor wish'd to try
The Force of their unequal Enemy:
TheirGarisons were ftrong,their Walls were high,
Their num'rous People Bold and Warlike were,
Anak the Great, with his fierce Sons were there:
Proud Amalek the Southern Border fills,
The Hittite and the Amorite the Hills,
Themselves as Tall; bold Jebus Sons the reft,
The Canaanite the Shore and Fordan'sCoaft poffefs'd.
Campamon,2 LXXVI.
NUMBERS, Chap. XIV.
The People murmur. Joshua and Caleb endeavour to ftill them, &c.
T was a mournful and a tedious Night:
The fiery Pillar fhot no friendly light,
A Pannic fear the trembling Camp invades,
Attack'd by Legions of infernal shades:
Discord and Malice, Difcontent and Care
Ingratitude, Sedition, and Despair,
And Faction, fowleft Fiend of Hell were there.
Amid the Croud in close Cabals they lay
Preparing for the Mischief of the Day:
With fullen Gloom the luckless Day arose,
And did the Counfels of the Night disclose,
Gath'ring in Globes fee the Tumultuous Crowd,
Pour'd from their Tents their Treafons vent aloud;
Nor only Mofes now, but God accuse,
Both did deceive 'em, both their Faith abuse;
To Canaan's hungry Sword their Hoft betray,
Their Wives and Children doom'd the Victor's prey:
This was too much, nor longer cou'd be born;
What they cou'd yet prevent they vainly mourn,
A Captain made to Egypt they'll return,
Foshua and gen'rous Caleb ftood their Ground,
Of all the Spies, these only loyal found;
In vain they strive the heated Crowd t' appease.
"If God in us delight and him we please,
We foon fhall in blefs'd Canaan's Land repofe,
Blefs'd Canaan's Land with Milk and Hony flows;
The Natives vainly boast their Walls and Tow'rs,
Their Strength, their Hearts are gone, and God is.
Deaf to their Charms th' Affembly furious grown
A motion made they both the Traitors ftone :
Intrepid ftill the mighty Mofes ftaid,
And still to Heav'n that ne'r forfook him, pray'd:
So when rude Winds the angry Billows chase,
The fteddy Steersman they'd in vain displace,
And dash the Salt-Sea Foam againft his Face;
Whilft on the Star that muft his Veffel guide
Fixing his Eyes he fcorns the Ocean's Pride.
And now the Glory' of God appears on high,
And flashing Lightnings ftreak the angry Sky:
The Factious Heads who the just War oppose,
Abuse their trust and magnifie the Foes,
By a fwift Plague from Heav'n of Life bereft,
Caleb and faithful Foshua only left :
The reft muft to the howling Wild retire,
And wand'ring Forty Years unlov'd, unbless'd ex
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