And know not whom, but as one leads the other; And what delight to be by such extoll'd, To live upon their tongues and be their talk, Of whom to be disprais'd were no small praise ? His lot who dares be singularly good. Th' intelligent among them and the wise Are few, and glory scarce of few is rais'd. This is true glory and renown, when God Looking on th' earth, with approbation marks The just man, and divulges him through Heav'n To all his angels, who with true applause Recount his praises: thus he did to Job, When to extend his fame through Heav'n and Earth, As thou to thy reproach may'st well remember, 66 He ask'd thee, Hast thou seen my servant Job? Famous he was Heav'n, on Earth less known; Where glory is false glory attributed
To things not glorious, men not worthy' of fame. They err who count it glorious to subdue
By conquest far and wide, to over-run
Large countries, and in field great battels win, Great cities by assault: what do these worthies, But rob and spoil, burn, slaughter, and inslave 75 Peaceable nations, neighb'ring, or remote, Made captive, yet deserving freedom more Than those their conquerors, who leave behind Nothing but ruin wheresoe'er they rove, And all the florishing works of peace destroy, Then swell with pride, and must be titled Gods, Great benefactors of mankind, deliverers,
Worshipt with temple, priest, and sacrifice? One is the son of Jove, of Mars the other;
Till conqu❜ror Death discover them scarce men, 85 Rolling in brutish vices, and deform'd, Violent or shameful death their due reward. But if there be in glory ought of good, It may by means far different be attain'd Without ambition, war, or violence; By deeds of peace, by wisdom eminent, By patience, temperance: I mention still Him whom thy wrongs with saintly patience borne Made famous in a land and times obscure ; Who names not now with honor patient Job? 95 Poor Socrates (who next more memorable?) By what he taught and suffer'd for so doing, For truth's sake suffering death unjust, lives now Equal in fame to proudest conquerors. Yet if for fame and glory ought be done, Ought suffer'd; if young African for fame His wasted country freed from Punic rage, The deed becomes unprais'd, the man at least, And loses, though but verbal, his reward. Shall I seek glory then, as vain men seek, Oft not deserv'd? I seek not mine, but his Who sent me', and thereby witness whence I am. To whom the Tempter murin'ring thus reply'd : Think not so slight of glory; therein least Resembling thy great Father: he seeks glory, 110 And for his glory all things made, all things Orders and governs; nor content in Heav'n
By all his angels glorify'd, requires
Glory from men, from all men good or bad,
Wise or unwise, no difference, no exemption; 115 Above all sacrifice, or hallow'd gift
Glory' he requires, and glory he receives Promiscuous from all nations, Jew, or Greek, Or barbarous, nor exception hath declar'd; From us his foes pronounc'd glory' he exacts. 120 To whom our Saviour fervently reply'd: And reason; since his word all things produc'd, Though chiefly not for glory as prime end, But to show forth his goodness, and impart His good communicable to every soul Freely; of whom what could he less expect Than glory' and benediction, that is thanks, The slightest, easiest, readiest recompense From them who could return him nothing else, And not returning that would likeliest render 130 Contempt instead, dishonor, obloquy ?
Hard recompense, unsuitable return
For so much good, so much beneficence.
But why should man seek glory, who' of his own Hath nothing, and to whom nothing belongs 135 But condemnation, ignominy', and shame ? Who for so many benefits receiv'd · Turn'd recreant to God, ingrate and false, And so of all true good himself despoil'd, Yet sacrilegious, to himself would take That which to God alone of right belongs; Yet so much bounty is in God, such grace,
That who advance his glory, not their own, Them he himself to glory will advance.
So spake the Son of God; and here again 145 Satan had not to answer, but stood struck With guilt of his own sin, for he himself Insatiable of glory had lost all, Yet of another plea bethought him soon. Of glory, as thou wilt, said he, so deem, Worth or not worth the seeking, let it pass: But to a kingdom thou art born, ordain'd To sit upon thy father David's throne;
By mother's side thy father; though thy right Be now in powerful hands, that will not part 155 Easily from possession won with arms : Judæ now and all the Promis'd Land, Reduc'd a province under Roman yoke, Obeys Tiberius; nor is always rul'd
With temp'rate sway; oft have they violated 160 The temple, oft the law with foul affronts,
Abominations rather, as did once
Antiochus and think'st thou to regain Thy right by sitting still or thus retiring? So did not Maccabeus: he indeed Retir'd unto the desert, but with arms; And o'er a mighty king so oft prevail'd,
That by strong hand his family obtain'd [usurp'd, Though priests, the crown, and David's throne With Modin and her suburbs once content. If kingdom move thee not, let move thee zeal And duty; zeal and duty are not slow;
But on occasion's forelock watchful wait.
They themselves rather are occasion best, Zeal of thy father's house, duty to free Thy country from her Heathen servitude ; So shalt thou best fulfil, best verify
The Prophets old, who sung thy endless reign; The happier reign the sooner it begins; Reign then; what canst thou better do the while?
To whom our Saviour answer thus return'd: All things are best fulfill'd in their due time, And time there is for all things, truth hath said: If of my reign prophetic writ hath told That it shall never end, so when begin The Father in his purpose hath decreed,
He in whose hand all times and seasons roll.
What if he hath decreed that I shall first
Be try'd in humble state, and things adverse, By tribulations, injuries, insults,
Contempts, and scorns, and snares, and violence,
Suffering, abstaining, quietly expecting,
Without distrust or doubt, that he may know What I can suffer, how obey? who best
Can suffer, best can do; best reign, who first 195 Well hath obey'd; just trial ere I merit My exaltation without change or end. But what concerns it thee when I begin My everlasting kingdom, why art thou Solicitous, what moves thy inquisition? Know'st thou not that my rising is thy fall, And my promotion will be thy destruction?
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