8

And therefore shall not Moses, though of God

Highly belovd, being but the Minister

Of Law, his people into Canaan lead;

But Joshua whom the Gentiles Jesus call, [ 310 ]

His Name and Office bearing, who shall quell

The adversarie Serpent, and bring back

Through the worlds wilderness long wanderd man

Safe to eternal Paradise of rest.

Meanwhile they in thir earthly Canaan plact [ 315 ]

Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins

National interrupt thir public peace,

Provoking God to raise them enemies:

From whom as oft he saves them penitent

By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom [ 320 ]

The second, both for pietie renownd

And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive

Irrevocable, that his Regal Throne

For ever shall endure; the like shall sing

All Prophecie, That of the Royal Stock [ 325 ]

Of David (so I name this King) shall rise

A Son, the Womans Seed to thee foretold,

Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust

All Nations, and to Kings foretold, of Kings

The last, for of his Reign shall be no end. [ 330 ]

But first a long succession must ensue,

And his next Son for Wealth and Wisdom famd,

The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents

Wandring, shall in a glorious Temple enshrine.

Such follow him, as shall be registerd [ 335 ]

Part good, part bad, of bad the longer scrowle,

Whose foul Idolatries, and other faults

Heapt to the popular summe, will so incense

God, as to leave them, and expose thir Land,

Thir Citie, his Temple, and his holy Ark [ 340 ]

With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey

To that proud Citie, whose high Walls thou sawst

Left in confusion, Babylon thence calld.