THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT.
173
In vain the prophets and apostles come
To call us home,
Home to the promis'd Canaan above,
Which does with nourishing milk and pleasant honey flow;
And even i' th' way to which we should be fed
With angels' tasteful bread:
But we, alas! the flesh-pots love,
We love the very leeks and sordid roots below.
To call us home,
Home to the promis'd Canaan above,
Which does with nourishing milk and pleasant honey flow;
And even i' th' way to which we should be fed
With angels' tasteful bread:
But we, alas! the flesh-pots love,
We love the very leeks and sordid roots below.
In vain we judgments feel, and wonders see!
In vain did God to descend hither deign;
He was his own ambassador in vain,
Our Moses and our guide himself to be!
We will not let ourselves to go,
And with worse harden'd hearts do our own Pharaohs grow.
Ah! lest at last we perish so,
Think, stubborn Man, think of th' Egyptian Prince
(Hard of belief and will, but not so hard as thou);
Think with what dreadful proofs God did convince
The feeble arguments that human power could show;
Think what plagues attend on thee,
Who Moses' God dost now refuse, more oft than Moses he.
In vain did God to descend hither deign;
He was his own ambassador in vain,
Our Moses and our guide himself to be!
We will not let ourselves to go,
And with worse harden'd hearts do our own Pharaohs grow.
Ah! lest at last we perish so,
Think, stubborn Man, think of th' Egyptian Prince
(Hard of belief and will, but not so hard as thou);
Think with what dreadful proofs God did convince
The feeble arguments that human power could show;
Think what plagues attend on thee,
Who Moses' God dost now refuse, more oft than Moses he.
"If from some god you come" (said the proud king
With half a smile and half a frown;
With half a smile and half a frown;
