This firmly, also, is decided on,
And that thy people surely shall return
To their paternal, and beloved shore,
And penitent, God truly then adore.

But close the page, and let the book be seal'd,
Many shall seek, and knowledge be reveal'd.

DANIEL.

But when shall all these mighty wonders come? How long the period ere they all be known?

GABRIEL.

The book is clos'd; so, Daniel, go thy way,
The whole is seal'd till the appointed day*
That shall display these mighty deeds to man,
Then will the work conspicuously be shewn :
Accomplished, these wonders shall be clear,
Which, till fulfill'd, dark and mysterious are.
The Great Omniscient hath fix'd the time,
When these great changes on the earth be seen:
Thy visions, Daniel, are for many days,
And long the period ere earth find repose;
Thy people's scattering must accomplish'd be,
Before they shall their restoration see;

Then will Michael, the Great Prince, stand up,

And, at that time be their deliv'rance wrought. (23)

* See chap. xii.

From hence depart, O Daniel, thou must,
With thy forefathers in the grave to rest,

Till from that couch of sleep man must awake,
And of eternal joy or wo partake,

Of earthly cares a final end be put,

With all mankind, then thou must take thy lot.

JEREMIAH.*

Commission'd by Jehovah's high command,

On thee, O Israel, special' I attend,

To tell thy sins, proclaim thy wicked way,t
And thy rebellion to thy face to shew.

Thus speaks thy God, "Ah, thou revolting tribe, “Thou wilt not trust Me, nor with Me abide,‡ "Nor wilt My statutes, nor My words believe! “But, why so kind a parent dost thou leave? "Hast thou nor ears to hear, nor eyes to see "Thy paths are crook'd, thy ways iniquity?

And, why not hear Me, nor my blessings heed, "Nor tremble at the presence of Thy God?

"Know thou, I am the true, the only Lord
"The heavens, the earth, by Me alone were made!§
"I'm the Almighty, Everlasting King,

"My reign's eternal, and My power's supreme!

* Jeremiah was called to the prophetic office in the year 628 B. C. and

continued it for 41 years.

+ See chap. i.

Ibid ii.

§ Ibid x.

"At my just wrath the earth, the heavens, shake,
"Indignant, worlds before my presence quake!
"I send the storm, I make the lightning fly,
"At My command loud thunders rend the sky!
"The cloudy veil I cause from floods to rise,
"The roaring tempest from My treasures flies!
"I fix'd the bound'ries of the raging sea,
"And stay'd the waves by My allwise decree!
"See, how the floods upheave, and foaming roll
"'Gainst My barrier, yet never can prevail !
"Do I not send the sweet refreshing rain,
"That gives the fruit, and loads the ripening grain ?*
"Did I not thee bring from proud Pharaoh's land,
"With potent arm, with mighty stretch'd out hand?
"And thee select to specially confide

66

My holy laws, to be thy faithful guide,

"Instruct to know Me, and My way observe,
"To walk therein, not willingly it leave?
"Yet thou, without a cause, from Me hast fled,
"And worship'd idols made of stone or wood:
"Hast gone to groves, and there the lofty tree
"In pieces hewn to frame a deity!
"Didst to the rock as anxiously repair,†
"And polish'd puppets form to worship there!

* Here we are again reminded by God himself, that the earth, the heavens, and all things therein, are solely the work of His own hands. How wonderful to find natural philosophers, and sensible men, employing their wits in searching for a method of forming the earth, independent of divine agency, thereby depreciating, if not flatly denying, the infinite power and wisdom of Omnipotence; and attempting to make his very existence doubtful! + See chap. x.

"Then, with pure silver fetch'd from Tarshish-coasts, "Or gold from Uphaz, plaster o'er their coats “Of Tyrian purple: thus thy dolls array'd: "Most pompous are conspicuously display'd "On altars rais'd beneath the shady tree, "And reverenc'd the garnish'd trash by thee! "The mount, the plain, the wood, the lovely grove, “Of thy pollution, testimonials give;

"Both hills and dales glow with unhallow'd flame, "Of incense burnt to honor Baal's name !

"How high in Tophet his vile altars rise! "With profane offerings Hinnom's in a blaze! "Thy blooming youths, thy lovely daughters there "Are brought to perish in the cursed fire!

66

My goodness shewn thee meets not thy regard, "Nor my benevolence thy gratitude;

"The high, the low, the people and the priest, "Are cov'tous, replete with foul deceit; "Contrive to cheat, by greediness are led, "To rob their neighbour of his daily bread! "One neighbour can't his next-door neighbour trust,* "And brothers for their brother's portion lust! "Unanimous they lie, friends to deceive, "Then study from each other how to thieve! "By arts unjust become they rich and great, "At home, abroad, iniquity throughout! "Made full and fat by downright covetousness, By plund'ring widows and the fatherless,

* See chap. ix.

"The needy scoff, whom want makes supplicate ; "Their words, their acts, their thoughts, are all ingrate! (24) ·

"False prophets preach, the priests help to deceive,
"What's wicked, priests and people pleas'd believe!
66 Thus, do ye plunder, murder, lie, and steal,
"Commit adult'ry, sacrifice to Baal;

"Yet come and stand before Me in the house
"Erected for Me! Lo! by your vile use,
"My church is made receptacle of thieves,
"The gross pollution's plain before my eyes;

My tabernacle's spoil'd, the contract's broke,
"That Me and mine did socially unite!
"The pastors, brutish turn'd, leave seeking Me,
"Their needy flocks have madly gone astray,
"And trod My cultivated vineyard underfoot,
"My pleasant portion they made desolate! (25)
"Shall I not visit for this wickedness,

"And punish for such foul unrighteousness?

"I surely shall! Should'st thy foul heart dictate "That thou art good, and ask why sorrow's bought, "Know! for thy evil thoughts, and works so vile, "I, for thy punishment, have sent the whole ! "I wish'd to see repentance, but as soon

"The African can change his sable stain,

Or, spotted leopard take a diff'rent skin,*

"As can the evil mind do pious acts,

"Or true religion spring from wicked hearts!

*See chap. xiii.