Scriptural poems being several portions of Scripture digested into English verse /

Then Joseph, who by no means now could hide His Brotherly affection longer, cried, Put all Men forth; and he was left alone When to his Brethren he himself made known. Then Joseph weeping lifted up his Voice So loud, that Pharaoh's Servants heard the noise. And to his Brethren did himself discover, And said, Lo! I am Joseph your own Brother; And doth my Father live? Whereat amazed, They could not speak but at each other gazed. Then Joseph said, Come near I pray, behold, I am your Brother Joseph whom ye sold To Egypt, be not grieved now therefore, Nor vex your selves, for God sent me before To save Life; for for these two Years there hath been A Famine, and five more to come, wherein Seed-time nor Harvest shall at all be seen. The Lord I say hath sent me to provide A Place, and strangely save your Lives beside. So now ye sent me not, but it was rather The Lord, and he hath made me as a Father Unto the King, Lord of his Household, and A Ruler over all this spacious Land. Unto my Father therefore go your way, And tell him, Thus doth thy Son Joseph say: ⟨p. 74⟩The Lord hath raised me to an high degree In Egypt, tarry not but come to me, And thou shalt dwell in Goshen and be nigh me, And with Provision there will I supply thee, Both thou and thine, Flocks, Herds, and all thou hast, (For yet these five Years will the Famine last) Lest otherwise Provision being scant, Thou and thy Family may come to want. Behold, both you and Benjamin my Brother Do see that it is I and not another: Go tell my Father this amazing Story, And bring him hither to behold my Glory. Then falling on his youngest Brother's Neck, And he on his, they over each other wept: And to the rest he did likewise, wherefore They now were more familiar than before. And now whilst they discoursed, the Report Of their arrival came to Pharaoh's Court, And he was pleased thereat, wherefore he said To Joseph, Let thy Brethren straightway lade Their Beasts with Corn, and thus unto them say, Unto your Native Country hast away, And fetch your Father and your Households, and I'll feed you with the good things of the Land. And since you are commanded by the King, Take Waggons with you hence wherein to bring Your Wives, your Little ones, and come down hither, Your Father, you and yours altogether; And never heed to bring your Household-stuff, For here in Egypt you shall have enough. Then did the Israelites accordingly: