GOD'S PROMISES
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Rhys, Ernest
Pater Cœlestis. So long as they sin, so long shall they have grievance. David my servant, something must I say to thee, For that thou lately hast wrought such vanity.
David. Spare not, blessed Lord, but say thy pleasure to me.
Pater Cœlestis. Of late days thou hast misused Bathsheba, The wife of Uriah, and slain him in the field.
David. Mercy, Lord, mercy; for doubtless I am defiled.
Pater Cœlestis. I constitute thee a king over Israel, And thee preserved from Saul, who was thine enemy. Yea, in my favour, so much thou didst excel, That of thine enemies I gave thee victory. Philistines and Syrians to thee came tributary. Why hast thou then wrought such folly in my sight. Despising my word, against all godly right?
David. I have sinned, Lord, I beseech thee, pardon me,
Pater Cœlestis. Thou shalt not die, David, for this iniquity, For thy repentance; but thy son by Bathsheba Shall die, forasmuch as my name is blasphemed Among my enemies, and thou the worse esteemed. From thy house for this the sword shall not depart.
David. I am sorry, Lord, from the bottom of my heart.
Pater Cœlestis. To further anger thou dost me yet compel.
David. For what matter, Lord? I beseech thy goodness tell.
Pater Cœlestis. Why didst thou number the children of Israel? Supposest in thy mind therein thou hast done well?
David. I cannot say nay, but I have done indiscreetly To forget thy grace for a human policy.
Pater Cœlestis. Thou shalt of these three choose which plague thou wilt have, For that sinful act, that I thy soul may save. A scarceness seven years, or else three months' exile, If not, for three days a pestilence most vile, For one thou must have, there is no remedy.
David. Lord, at thy pleasure, for thou art full of mercy.
Pater Cœlestis. Of a pestilence then, three score thousand and ten, In three days shall die of thy most puissant men.
David. O Lord, it is I who have offended thy grace, Spare them and not me, for I have done the trespace.620
Pater Cœlestis. Though thy sins be great, thine inward heart's contribution Doth move my stomach in wonderful condition. I find thee a man according to my heart; Wherefore this promise I make thee, ere I depart. A fruit there shall come forth issuing from thy body, Whom I will advance upon thy seat for ever. His throne shall become a seat of heavenly glory His worthy sceptre from right will not dissever, His happy kingdom, of faith shall perish never. Of heaven and of earth he was author principal, And will continue, though they do perish all. This sign shalt thou have for a token special, That thou mayst believe my words unfeignedly, Where thou hast minded, for my memorial, To build a temple, thou shalt not finish it truly; But Solomon thy son shall do that action worthy, In token that Christ must finish everything That I have begun, to my praise everlasting.
David. Immortal glory to thee, most heavenly King, For that thou hast given continual victory To me thy servant, ever since my annointing, And also before, by many conquests worthy. A bear and lion I slew through thy strength only. I slew Goliath, who was six cubits long. Against thine enemies thou madest me ever strong. My fleshly frailness made me do deadly wrong, And clean to forget thy laws of righteousness. And though thou visitedst my sinfulness among, With pestilent plagues, and other unquietness; Yet never tookst thou from me thy plenteousness Of thy godly spir't, which thou in me didst plant. I having remorse, thy grace could never want. For in conclusion, thy everlasting covenant Thou gavest unto me for all my wicked sin; And hast promised here by protestation constant, That one of my seed shall such high fortune win, As never did man since this world did begin. By his power he shall put Satan from his hold, In rejoice whereof to sing will I be bold.
[Then he begins in a musical voice an antiphon, "O Adonai," which the chorus (as before) follows with instruments.
O Lord God Adonai, and guide of the faithful house of Israel, who sometime appearedst in the flaming bush to Moses, and to him didst give a law on Mount Sinai, come now to redeem us in the strength of thy right hand.
ACT VI
OF THE PROPHET ESAIAS
Pater Cœlestis. I brought up children from their first infancy, Who now despise all my godly instructions. An ox knoweth its lord, an ass its master's duty, But Israel will not know me, nor my conditions. Oh, froward people, given all to superstitions, Unnatural children, expert in blasphemies, Provoke me into hate, by their idolatries. Take heed to my words, ye tyrants of Sodoma, In vain ye offer your sacrifice to me. Discontent I am with you beasts of Gomorrah And have no pleasure when I your offerings see. I abhor your fasts and your solemnity, For your traditions my ways ye set apart, Your works are in vain, I hate them from the heart.
Esaias. Thy city, sweet Lord, is now become unfaithful, And her conditions are turned upside down. Her life is unchaste, her acts be very hurtful, Her murder and theft have darkened her renown. Covetous rewards do so their conscience drown, That the fatherless they will not help to right, The poor widow's cause comes not before their sight. Thy peaceable paths seek they neither day nor night; But walk wicked ways after their fantasy. Convert their hearts, Lord, and give them thy true light, That they may perceive their customable folly: Leave them not helpless in so deep misery, But call them from it of thy most special grace, By thy true prophets, to their souls' health and solace.
Pater Cœlestis. First they had fathers, then had they patriarchs, Then dukes, then judges for their guides and monarchs: Now have they stout kings, yet are they wicked still, And will in no wise my pleasant laws fulfil. Always they apply to idols' worshipping, From the vile beggar to the annointed king.
Esaias. For that cause thou hast in two divided them, In Samaria the one, the other in Jerusalem. The king of Judah in Jerusalem did dwell, And in Samaria the king of Israel. Ten of the twelve tribes became Samaritans, And the other two were Hierosolymitans.621 In both these countries, according to their doings, Thou permittedst them to have most cruel kings. The first of Judah was wicked king Roboam, Of Israel the first was that cruel Jeroboam; Abiah then followed, and in the other Nadab, Then Bassa, then Helah, then Zambri, Jehoram and Ahab. Then Ochesius, then Athaliah, then Joas;622 On the other part was Jonathan and Achaz. To rehearse all them that have done wretchedly In the sight of thee, it were long verily.
Pater Cœlestis. For the wicked sin of filthy idolatry, Which the ten tribes did in the land of Samarie, In space of one day fifty thousand men I slew, Three of their cities also I overthrew, And left the people in such captivity, That in all the world they knew not whither to flee. The other two tribes, when they from me went back To idolatry, I left in the hand of Shishak, The king of Egypt, who took away their treasure, Conveyed their cattle, and slew them without measure. In time of Ahaz, a hundred thousand and twenty Were slain at one time for their idolatry. Two hundred thousand from thence were captive led, Their goods dispersed, and they with penury fed. Seldom they fail it, but either the Egyptians Have them in bondage, or else the Assyrians.
Esaias. Well, yet blessed Lord, relieve them with thy mercy. Though they have been ill other princes' days, Yet good Hezekiah hath taught them goodly ways. When the prince is good, the people are the better; And as he is nought, their vices are the greater. Heavenly Lord, therefore send them the consolation, Which thou hast covenanted with every generation. Open thou the heavens, and let the lamb come hither, Who will deliver thy people altogether. Ye planets and clouds, cast down your dews and rain, That the earth may bear out healthful savour plain.
Pater Cœlestis. May the wife forget the child of her own body?
Esaias. Nay, that she can not in any wise verily.
Pater Cœlestis. No more can I them who will do my commandments, But must preserve them from all inconvenience.
Esaias. Blessed art thou, Lord, in all thy acts and judgments.
Pater Cœlestis. Well, Esaias, for this thy fidelity, A covenant of health thou shalt have also of me. For Zion's sake now I will not hold my peace, And for Jerusalem, to speak will I not cease Till that righteous Lord become as a sunbeam bright, And their just saviour as a lamp extend his light. A rod shall shoot forth from the old stock of Jesse, And a bright blossom from that root will arise, Upon whom always the spir't of the Lord shall be, The spir't of wisdom, the spir't of heavenly practice, And the spir't that will all godliness devise. Take this for a sign, a maid of Israel Shall conceive and bear that Lord Emmanuel.
Esaias. Thy praises condign no mortal tongue can tell, Most worthy maker and king of heavenly glory, For all capacities thy goodness doth excel, Thy plenteous graces no brain can compass truly, No wit can conceive the greatness of thy mercy, Declared of late in David thy true servant, And now confirmed in this thy later covenant. Of goodness thou madest Solomon of wit more pregnant, Asa and Josaphat, with good king Hezechiah, In thy sight to do that was to thee right pleasant. To quench idolatry thou raisedst up Elijah Jehu, Elisha, Micah, and Obdiah, The Syrian Naaman thou purgedst of a lepry623 Thy works wonderful who can but magnify? Arise, Jerusalem, and take faith by and by,624 For the very light that shall save thee is coming. The Son of the Lord appear will evidently, When he shall resort, see that no joy be wanting. He is thy saviour, and thy life everlasting, Thy release from sin, and thy whole righteousness, Help me in this song t' acknowledge his great goodness.
[Then in a tuneful voice he begins an antiphon, "O radix Jesse," which the chorus follows with instruments.
O fruitful root of Jesse, that shall be set as a sign among people, against the worldly rulers shall fiercely open their mouths, whom the Gentiles worship as their heavenly Lord. Come now to deliver us, and delay the time no longer.
ACT VII
OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Pater Cœlestis. I have with fierceness mankind oft-times corrected, And again I have allured him by sweet promise. I have sent sore plagues, when he hath me neglected, And then by and by, most comfortable sweetness. To win him to grace, both mercy and righteousness I have exercised, yet will he not amend. Shall I now lose him, or shall I him defend? In his most mischief, most high grace will I send To overcome him by favour, if it may be. With his abuses no longer will I contend But now accomplish my first will and decree. My word being flesh, from hence shall set him free, Him teaching a way of perfect righteousness, That he shall not need to perish in his weakness.
John the Baptist. Manasseh is past, who turned from thee his heart. Ahaz and Ammon have now no more ado, Jechoniah with others who did themselves avert From thee to idols, may now no farther go. The two false judges, and Baal's wicked priests also, Phassur and Semaiah, with Nebuchadnosor, Antiochus and Triphon, shall thee displease no more. Three score years and ten, thy people into Babylon Were captive and thrall for idols' worshipping. Jerusalem was lost, and left void of dominion, Burnt was their temple, so was their other building, Their high priests were slain, their treasure came to nothing; The strength and beauty of thine own heritage, Thus didst thou leave them in miserable bondage. Oft had they warnings, sometimes by Ezekiel And other prophets, as Isay and Jeremy, Sometimes by Daniel, sometimes by Hosea and Joel, By Amos and Abdiah, by Jonah and Sophonya,625 By Nahum and Micah, Haggai and by Zachary, By Malachias, and also by Habakkuk, By Olda the widow, and by the prophet Baruch. Remember Josiah, who took the abomination From the people, then restoring the laws again. Of Rahab consider the faithful generation, Whom to wine drinking no friendship might constrain. Remember Abimelech, the friend of truth certain, Zerubabel the prince, who did repair the temple, And Jesus Josedech, of virtue the example. Consider Nehemiah, and Esdras the good scribe, Merciful Tobias, and constant Mardocheus;626 Judith and Queen Esther, of the same godly tribe, Devout Matthias and Judas Maccabæus.