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"And pass to-morrow as this jolly day;
"Our bread is bak'd, our bellies we'll obey."
But wo to them who thus pervert Gods laws,t
Who write, who publish impious, false decrees,
Who turn the needy from the donor's door,
And take the bread from the oppressed poor,
Of unprotected widows make their prey,
And from the orphan snatch his right away,
Who early rise, and in the morning join,‡
Till drowsy nightfall to carouse in wine,
Who harp and viol, pipe and tabret take
Licentious chorus at the feast to make,
Tell their vile jingles exquisitely charm,
And that to God intended is no harm;
For as the fire destroys the stubble, they,
And quick as chaff, shall be consum'd away!
Lo! hell for them fierce whirls the glowing flame,
Their pomp, their glory, to consume therein !§

* Though both Isaiah and Ezekiel give similar descriptions of prostitute Jewish teachers; yet, I think that this is applied to a depraved and apostate christian priesthood. Let us but compare the prophet's delineation with the actions of numbers ordained to be ministers in many christian churches, and we must see how exactly his faithfully finished portrait resembles the original, and be convinced of the truth of his spirited and severe allusions.

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§ What a dreadful sentence is this pronounced by the tongue of inspiration upon licentious and careless teachers of God's word! They may peruse it with trembling. May it so impress their minds as to cause sincere repentance for past neglect, and to become dutiful pastors for the time to

come!

O, then, ye shepherds, speak ye, loudly cry,*
And, like to trumpets, raise the voice on high;
And tell your flocks their heinous wickedness,
Bid them repent and turn to righteousness;
Deal out your food to feed the hungry poor,
Who humbly asketh for it at your door,
O give them shelter from the piercing storm,
Their limbs benumbed, nourish you and warm,
If naked clothe them; set oppression free,
And let the burden'd be reliev'd by you!
Then as the rays of the bright orient sun,
Your glowing light the torpid heart shall warm;
Your powers shall pierce, make souls instinctive feel,
You serve your God, your weighty trust fulfil;
This holy work shall prosper by your earnest care,
And hearts converted feel His saving power.

Lo! who is this arriv'd from Bozra's plains,†
In blood-stain'd garments? Who from Edom comes‡

* See chap. Iviii.

+ Some Commentators imagine this prophecy is involved in mystery, but it appears our blessed Redeemer is the person of whom the prophet speaks, and that he is now describing his second manifestation, when he will come to free his servants from the tyrannic slavery of cruel and oppressive apostates, sweep the earth of all opposers of his righteous government, and rule the undisturbed spiritual and temporal Lord of the christian world. Let it be observed that this prediction exactly agrees with all the other prophecies respecting that great event. See chap. Ixiii.

In glorious raiment, in majestic state,
On whom the vict'ry and the triumph wait?
'Tis He, who trod the wine-press once alone,
Forsook by all; to help Him Who had none,
That now in glorious conq'ring robes appears
Arm'd in his strength, cloth'd with almighty powers;
And, as the whirlwind sweeps the sheafy ground,
Among His foes deals swift destruction round.
Behold, the heavens, trembling, to him bow!
He comes in strength worlds to create anew !-
Yet, in Him still the loving spirit lives

And mercy in His tender heart resides;

Though arm'd with vengeance He consoles the meek,
He renovates and heals the sick and weak,
Sets ope the prison, makes the captives free,
And those in bonds, restores to liberty;
The Gentiles, who accept redeeming love,*
Shall now in Him a gracious Saviour prove;
And king's, and people who may faithful be
His saving pow'r and high protection see.

"But now," says He, "My sword accounts with those

"Who Me despis'd; death shall their journey close,

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Before, I pleaded by My holy word,

"But now, I'll do it with my brandish'd sword;

"For when I called none of them appear'd, "To My salvation paid they no regard;

"But slandrous publish'd the blasphemous thought, "Delighted in, and every evil wrought.

* See chap. Ixi.

"I, Prince of Peace, will give it to the world, "Disturbance shall from earth's domains be hurl'd; "Israel and Judah, by My grace restor❜d, "Shall Me, for Saviour, own they crucifi'd,

"Whilst Sharon's fill'd with Jacob's playful sheep,
"Which shall in Achor's folds safe herd and sleep;
"And Abram's seed in Canaan grow again,
"His flocks increase, o'er Judah's mountains roam,
"In safety all find peace and plenty there,
"No longer troubl'd by the din of war."
Now Syria plagues no more, proud Babel's gone,
Imperial power departs from haughty Rome;
And that horn'd monster, impious Man of Sin,
Meets punishment from Great Messiah's arm;
The piercing sword issuing from His mouth,
Discomfits this corrupter of the truth;

And mystic Babel, seat of his black crimes, (32)
Like Sodom fall's before devouring flames.
Now He, the Mountain of the Mighty God,*
O'er all doth raise triumphantly His head,
Above all powers Himself majestic shew,
A happy world His love and goodness know ;
His laws from Zion triumphant proceed,
Throughout the earth as Saviour He's obey'd.
The murd'ring swords become the harmless shares,
To pruning hooks are chang'd the hostile spears,
The brazen trumpet's warlike clangor's o'er,
To martial deeds it stimulates no more;

* See chap. ii.

No longer nations against nations wield.
The murd'rous steel, nor want the fencing shield d;
War's fury dies, all hostile tumults cease,
Earth, bless'd and happy, rests in love and peace.
Now loftiness, ambition, arrogance,

Fierce malice, envy, hatred, insolence,

Are converts to benevolence and love,

And men, content, well pleas'd, obedient prove:
No hostile passion more disturbs the mind,
The heart is humble, merciful, and kind,
Th' Almighty God is truly worship'd now,

That man's but man, at last, man's taught to know.

The wolf shall fawn upon the playful lamb,*
In love, the leopard with the kid lie down; (33)
The fatling calf beneath the tiger's paw
Shall find protection, there no injury know,
The sportive child take each in either hand,
And lead them both obedient to command;

The cow and bear in social frolic meet,
Their young promiscuous play, and loving sleep;
The noble lion, courteous, tractable,

Most kindly feed within the ox's stall;
The infant, playing on the aspis' den,

No harm receive, no injury sustain ;

And in the holy mount none more destroy,
The old, the young, shall there Jehovah know,

* See chap. xi. and lxv.

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