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

CHAP. XLVIII.

AND now when Joseph heard his Father lay Even at the point of death, he hastes away To visit him, and took along with him His Son Manasseh, and's Son Ephraim. Whereof when Jacob heard he strengthened Himself, and rose and sate upon the Bed: And thus to Joseph said, Lo, God appeared To me at Luz in Canaan, and declared, That he would bless, and make me a great Nation, And give my Seed that Land for a Possession: And Jacob said, Behold, these Sons of thine As Reuben and as Simeon shall be mine, And all the rest which shall be born to thee Hereafter, shall be thine, and they shall be Called by the Name of their own Family. Behold thy Mother died upon the way, When I from Padan came, near Ephratah, The which is in the Land of Canaan, where, To wit, in Bethlehem, did I bury her. And Jacob seeing Joseph's Sons were there, He asked of him who the Children were. And Joseph said, My Father, lo, these be The Sons, God in this Place hath given me. Then Jacob said, I pray thee bring them nigh To me, and I will bless them ere I die. (Now Jacob's Eyes, by reason of Age, were dim) And Joseph brought his Sons near unto him, And Jacob kissed and embraced them: ⟨p. 82⟩And said I never thought to see thy Face, And lo, the Lord hath shown me of thy race. And Joseph from between his Knees brought forth His Sons, and bowed himself even to the Earth: And in his Right hand held up Ephraim, Towards his Father's Left hand guiding him, And in his Left hand to his Father's right, He held his Son Manasseh opposite. And Israel stretching out his Right hand, laid It on the youngest namely Ephraim's head: And laid his Left hand wittingly upon Manasseh's head, although the eldest Son. And Jacob blessed Joseph, saying, The God Of Heaven, in whose Paths my Fathers trod, Who all my Life hath nourished me, even he Who from all Evil hath redeemed me, Bless both the Lads, and let them bear my Name, And the Name of my Fathers Abraham And Isaac, and let them multiply In the midst of the Earth exceedingly. And Joseph seeing his Father's Right hand laid On Ephraim's head, he was displeased, and said, Not so, my Father, lay this hand upon Manasseh's head, for he's the eldest Son: And therewithal attempted to have laid His Father's Right hand on Manasseh's head. But he refused and said, I know it, my Son, I know it full well, he also shall become A People, and be mighty: