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

When Jacob from his Brother Esau fled, He by the Hand of Providence was led To Padan-aram, in Assyria, where He served his Uncle Laban twenty year; During which time he was in all things blest, And with a numerous Issue 'mongst the rest: Amongst whom none so pleasing in his sight As Joseph was, who was his chief delight: Who by the time that Jacob was returned Into the Land, where's Fathers had sojourned, Was full arrived at seventeen years of Age; And by his Hopefulness did then presage, He was endued with a noble Mind, That would to virtuous Actions be inclined; For being sent to feed his Father's Flock, Among his Brethren, he great notice took Of what they did, and if in any sort They did amiss, he thereof made report Unto his Father, and did thus create His Father's favour, but his Brethren's hate. ⟨p. 49⟩His Father loved him better than the rest, As being the Son wherewith his Age was blest: And that his Kindness might the more appear, Made him a party coloured Coat to wear. But as it often haps, his Father's Love Did in his Brethren greater Hatred move: But that which most incensed them was his Dreams, By which, in a Prophetic way, he seems Their low Submission, and his future State Of Greatness, plainly to Prognosticate. For to his Brethren thus his Dreams he told, And said, as we were binding Sheaves, behold, My Sheaf arose and stood up in the Field, And all your Sheaves stood round about, to yield Obeisance unto mine: And what, must we Indeed, say they, be subject unto thee? Their Wrath increased, this added to his Crime. And Joseph dreamed yet a second time; And said, Behold, I saw the Sun and Moon, And the eleven Stars to me fall down At which his Father highly was offended, And for these words, the Lad he reprehended, And said, fond Youth, Dost thou pretend to show That I, thy Mother, and thy Brethren too, Must all submit to thee? Thou dost but dream: But Jacob kept his words, and thought of them. Now Jacob's Sons did feed their Flocks in Shechem, And he desired Joseph to go seek 'em, And find them out, and come again and tell If all things with them and their Flocks were well. So Joseph went, and wandered here and there, But could not find out where his Brethren were,