On Israel's Rebellion

O House of Israel, why will ye die? O House of Israel, why shall not I Be King o'er you? said the eternal One, When their Rebellions came before his Throne Rouzing his Justice: Why do ye refuse Me to be King, another King to choose? Incline your Ear, and hearken to my Voice, Lest you too late repent your hasty Choice Have I not gather'd you, that ye might be A pure, peculiar People unto me? Did I not bring you out of Egypt's Land, And set you free from Pharaoh's cruel Hand Did I not guide you safely thro' the Sea, Leading you with a glorious Cloud by Day And with a Pillar of bright Fire by Night, Conducted you in pleasant Paths of Light? Did I not Jordan's flowing Streams divide, Whist you pass'd dry-shod to the further side? Yea, without humane Art, I caus'd to fall, Down to the Ground, proud Jericho's high Wall. Could any Mortal Prince do thus for you? I gave you Being, Life, and Conquest too. Why do you then rebel against your God? Do you not fear him, nor his Iron-Rod? Remember how, in Love, I nourished Thee, like a tender Child, with Angels Bread; With Water from the Rock I did supply thee, Altho' I knew 't was good sometimes to try thee. Thine Enemies I did for thee subdue; Yea, Great and mighty Kings I overthrew, When they oppressed or opposed thee: But, ah, what Guile, or what Iniquity, Have your Fore-Fathes ever found in me! Or in my righteous Statutes? Yet have they Delighted rather in a crooked Way, Than in my Law; whose Path is perfect Light, In which the Wise and prudent take Delight. Tho' they perversly often turn'd aside, As you their Children, who have now deny'd Me to be King: 'Tis me that you forsake, To choose a Mortal, who will from you take Your Sons and Daughters, for his Offices, For Horsemen, Cooks, and other Services Your Vineyards, Fields, Cattle, and other Treasure, As he thinks fit, he'll call for at his Pleasure. Stiff-necked People are ye then, to choose Man for your King, but stubbornly refuse Me, your Creator, that ye may hereby Be like your Neighbours; whose Idolatry You also dote upon: Tho' my Command Was to destroy the Idols of the Land; Which to extirpate utterly, I did All Converse and Affinity forbid With those Inhabitants; whom therefore I Since they the Land with gross Iniquity Had long defil'd, determin'd to expel, And give them for a Prey to Israel, To root them out, not imitate: For they, By ill Example, soon would lead astray From my pure Precepts. Yet you rather be Inclin'd to hearken unto such, than me, And t'imitate the Nations round about ye, Who, should I but withdraw, would quickly rout ye Take now your Choice; but know the Time will be In your Afflictions, ye will seek to me: For they will prove as Thorns to vex and grieve you And there is none but I that can relieve you For 'tis not Man can give you Victory O'er your Opposers: No, 'tis only I. And had you still obey'd my just Command I'd quite expell'd your Foes from out the Land