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

CHAP. XLIX.

AND Jacob called all his Sons together, And said, Ye Sons of Jacob come you hither: And hearken what your aged Father says, Who tells you what shall be in the last days. Reuben my first born, of my Strength the Flower, The excellency of Dignity and Power: Unstable as Water, be for ever vile, Because thou didst thy Father's Bed defile. Simeon and Levi are Brethren, Instruments Of Cruelty are lodged in their Tents: Come not, my Soul, their secret Councils nigh, My Honour, with them have no Unity: For in their Wrath they caused a Man to fall, And in their Self-will digged down a Wall. Curst be their anger, fierce, yea cursed be Their Wrath, for it was full of Cruelty: ⟨p. 84⟩In Jacob therefore let there Seed be spread, And every where in Israel scattered. Judah shall have his Brethren's Praise, and they Shall bow before him, he his Foes shall slay. Judah's a Lion's. Whelp returned from pray, He stooped, he couched, and as a Lion lay, As an old Lion, who shall dare molest, Or rouse him up, when he lies down to rest: The Sceptre shall from Judah never start, Nor a Lawgiver from his Feet depart, Until the blessed Shiloh come, to whom The scattered People shall from all parts come: Binding his Foal unto the choicest Vine, He washed his Garments, all of them in Wine, His Eyes shall with the Blood of the Grapes look red, And milky Whiteness shall his Teeth over spread. Lo, Zebulun shall dwell upon the Sea, An Haven for the Ships security, And unto Zidon shall his Border be. And Issachar is a strong Ass between Two Burdens crouching, who when he had seen That Rest was pleasant, and the Land was good, His servile Neck unto the Yoke he bowed. Dan as a Judge shall over Israel sway, He shall be as a Serpent in the way, To bite the Horse, and cast the Rider down. O God! I have looked for thy Salvation. Gad by a Troop shall be overcome, but he Shall at the last obtain the Victory. The Bread of Asher shall be fat indeed, And Royal Dainties shall from him proceed ⟨p. 85⟩Like to an Hind let loose is Naphthali, He speaketh all his Words acceptably. Joseph's a fruitful Bough, whose Branches tall Grow by a Well, and over-top the Wall: