The ark, its loss and recovery or, some meditations on the history recorded in the beginning of I Sam. in meeter.

The ARK , its LOSS and RECOVERY , Or , some Meditations on the History recorded in the beginning of 1 Sam . in Meeter . THe Ark in Shiloh rested many a year ; 1 Sam . 1.3 . Hophni and Phineas Priests of God were there : Though Priests of God , Ch. 2.12 . yet Sons of Belial ; The causers of their own , and fathers fall : Their ignorance and scandal did disgrace Their holy function , and that holy place . To such , their linnen Ephods but pretence . It signifies , nor light , nor innocence ; But whited Sepulchres ; when that , which borders On Atheism , Ch. 1.12 . is clad with holy Orders . Their ignorance was gross , they knew not God , Though in his house they had their whole abode : 15. Their scandal gross ; rapacious gluttony , 16. And , it is vile off-spring , brutish lechery , 22. The women at the Tabernacle doors ; This place a stews , those votaries made whores ; Wherefore their sin was great before the Lord ; 17. And men the offrings of the Lord abhorr'd : It was so then , and will be so , where e're A blockish , brutish Clergy , domineer . Their reverend father Eli's made acquainted , 22. With what debaucheries his Sons were tainted : Sons of the Church ; whose blazing vites will No more be hid , then beacons on a hill . And what says he ? 22. alas he 's very old ; And in this cause of God is very cold : A feeble [ why d' ye do so ? 23. with a why Hear I this evil to your infamy ? ] 24. Away my Sons ; for 't is no good report , I hear from all , that to me do resort ; Not only evils , that your selves do do , But that you make the People wicked too ▪ By vile perswasions , and by viler deeds , The Vulgar is corrupted : He proceeds : The Iudg shall judg the man , whom men implead ; 25. If God 's offended , who shall intercede ? 'T was good , and grave reproof : but it was less , Then what was meet for such vile wickedness . Oh! that but half so many sav'ry words Might drop from any of those Spiritual LORDS , Who can't but know the common fame's relation , And hear the groans of a whole mourning Nation . 25. But thus their gentle father could not stay them From sinning ; 't was because the Lord would slay them . God hardens whom he means to break : thus steel Is poud'red : and his hand they 'l surely feel Zeph . 1 : 12. Emptying , and overturning , whom he sees , And does permit , to settle on their lees . 26. Mean while does * * That is , Asked of God . Samuel grow ; that child of tears , Child of a gracious Mothers Vows and prayers ; ( That , when this cursed crew should be remov'd , He might succeed ) of God , and men belov'd . He needs must prosper , whom the Lord does bles● : Needs must be lov'd , where God plants loveliness : He needs must thrive , that has a portion , where It can't be lost , as it is often here : Pray'rs put to interest in heav'n are better , Where God by Promises becomes the debtor . Ask'd , and receiv'd of God ; return'd ; accepted ; For , and from , such a child , what may ● expected ? And in a dark , and doleful day ▪ 't is well , God can raise Samuel's for his Israel . 27. A man of G●d to father Eli came ; Did his Sons vileness , and his mildness blame : 28. In Gods name thus bespeak them ? Did I chuse Your Fathers for my Priesthood you abuse ? Did I appear in Egypt to relieve them ? And after , Israels Offrings did I give them ? Did God by Forsan rum ● & Tit● Providence , or by Permission , Advance , and put them in so good condition ? Not only save them , when they were so low ; But by his bounty made them over flow ? Why kick ye at mine offring ? 29 ( like the teaching Of those who often preach 'gainst often preaching ) . Which I commanded have : 29 why are preferr'd Thy graceless Sons before me ? thou hast err'd : You feed your Selves , and not my Flock ; you snatch What 's not your share ; you live upon the catch : Things inharmonious are , and out of tune , Where Priests are fat , and sacrifice Iejune . Who honour me I 'le honour in mens eyes ; Lightly esteem'd shall be , 3● who me despise . 'T is not proud looks , big words , can men exempt From just disgrace , from a deserv'd contempt . The swelling Toad did burst ( if tales say true ) And then his lothsome garbage came in view . Is not the empty chaff lift up ( I pray ) In winnowing only to be blown away ? 'T is not the slippery hight secures at all : Psal . 18. Only procures ( when 't comes ) the greater fall . The proudest plumes must down , when God disgraces , By loss of reputations first , then places . Thine arm of strength I will cut off , 3 behold In all thine house shall not a man grow old . My pretious time they shall not idly spend ; But end their lives for living to no end . Thou bringst an enemy where I do dwell , 3 In all the wealth I give to Israel . These are the true state enemies , that fall Like angry Sampson , ruine selves and all : That by their wickedness do mischiefs bring , Upon themselves , their Country , and their King : Those are the real Rebels that are so , Both to their King above , ch. 1 and him below : These do , not only call in enemies . But make them prosper in their enterprise : These weaken hearts , and hands ; divide , confound Councels , and actions ; run a State on ground : Not only do their own Estates let fly , But turn a Nations wealth to beggery : And yet ( that they may still pass unsuspected ) Cry out of others ; Oh th' are disaffected . 3. If any man of thine I do reprieve , Thine eyes he shall consume , thine heart shall grieve : The spreading branches of thine house I 'le lop , 4. Thy buds , thy blossoms , in the flow'r I 'le crop : And take this for a signal from on high , Hophni , and Phineas , in one day shall die . Thus men of greatest Comforts are depriv'd , When not return'd , from whence they were deriv'd : Thus greatest hopes are dash'd , by God confounded , When upon ought , beside himself , they 'r grounded . 5. After which , I a faithful Priest will raise , Shall do , what 's in my heart , unto my praise : He 'l mind my mind ; his house shall be secure , Before my * * ●nted Christ for ever to endure . Yea , that 's a faithful one indeed , that still In all his Ministrations , the will Of God reveal d in 's Word does mind ; the fashions , Inventions , humours , fancies , pride , or passions , His own , or others , never yields unto : He 'l thrive with God , though men do him undo , The face of God for ever shall he see ; How e're unfix'd on earth his station be . ● . Then every one , that of thine house remain , Shall crouch a petty pension to obtain ; Shall beg a piece of Silver , bit of meat ; Shall beg an Office , he may have to eat . Such hireling Priests will for a piece of bread , 13. Handfuls of Barley , that they may be fed , 19. Condemn , whom God acquits , and by a lie Encourage souls , whom God condemns to die . But see , pride , avarice , to what it tends ; Lust , riot , rapine , see out where it ends . Samuel , Ch. 3. the Gracious Child , unto the Lord Did minister ; then precious was the word : The word , when plentiful , had in derision , Grew now esteem'd ; there was no open vision . God can inhance his truths , and make men prise His Gospel light , by hiding's from their eyes . He can make proud despisers , lofty scorners , That slight his word i' th' streets , go seek 't in corners , Rais't by depressions ; free it by restraints ; By wicked shakings , can make setled saints ; Thus counterplots he Satan , Isa . 29.12 , 13. and his tools : Thus Noph , and Zoan , Councellors are fools ▪ When Elies lamps were dim , 2. Gods lamp had light ; His Candlestick not yet removed quite , 3. Samuel lay down to sleep , 4. ● whom God doth wake ; And unto Eli ran he through mistake : 5. Thrice thus mistaken , 6. he to Eli ran ; Nor could discern 'twixt voice of God and man : . 1● . Poor novice ! yet he knew not well the Lord ; 7. Nor fully was reveal'd to him the word . O would too many were not to be found Of riper years , that can't discern the sound Of words of worthy men ( unto this hour ) From spiritual Gospels mighty saving power ! But to old Eli it Gods call appears ; 8. Who bids him say , 9. speak Lord , thy servant hears : He does so : 10. then the Lord doth farther tell , How he would do a thing in Israel , 11. Should make their ears to tingle , who should hear it , He 'd Judgment bring , 12. and Elies house should bear it . Their ears to tingle , that would tickled be ? ●udgment on those , that hope yet to go free ? On Elies house ? who 's on this message sent , By Elias bouse will certainly be shent : Rough preaching will rough handling meet ; suspended At least he 'l be , till Elie's power be ended . When I begin ( saith God ) I 'le make an end ▪ For I have told him , I will Judgments send , For his Sons unrestrained Villanies : 4. I 've sworn , it sha'nt be purg'd by sacrifice . 'T is sad ! but just : Priests hainous crimes do cry Louder , than others , for severity . If you ( by place ) draw nigh him ; know , he 's nigh you : ●t . 10. Trembling remember Nadab and Abihu . 15. Samuel lay til the morn ; was then afraid To tell old Eli , what the Lord had said : And well he might , expecting nought but scorn : ( I know , by whom , the like would ne're be born . ) 7. But Eli will hear all ; and does submit : 18. 'T is the Lord : let him do what he sees fit . A good Submission : let it pattern be To us in fear'd or felt calamitie : 19. God was with growing Samuel : none of all His words to ground did unregarded fall : ●0 . Him an establish'd Prophet Israel knew : 21. To whom in Shiloh God himself did shew . By God he 's own'd ; to Israel he 's known : His Call who 'l call in question ? who 'l disown ? 'T is bold to slight confess'd reality , For want perhaps of some formality . Idle drones , angry Wasps ( we know their honey ) They 'l part with wax to those , will part with money : But Gospel-calls , though they 're not legal ones , Will serve for Gospel-ministrations . He need not care , whom Heavens broad-seal confirms , To get earths purchas'd seal , on dirty terms . 4. ● Now Israel would forth in battel go To fight the Philistines their ancient foe : But Oh alas ! it was with little gain ; Israel is smitten , and four thousand slain . In hast they went , without their God ; their loss Returns them back again by weeping-cross . Hot spurs may easily begin a fray , Who , not so easily can win the day . The Elders pause upon 't , and thus advise ; Why hath ▪ God smote us by our enemies ? Affliction makes men serious ; then they 'l think , Who 't is , that bores their Keel ▪ and why they sink : They now discern , whose arrows 't were that smot them Although they were Philistian bows that shot them . Come ; let us have the Ark among us ; then God's hand will save us from the hands of men . The Sons of Eli to the Camp it bring ; 4. All Israel did shout ; 5. the earth did ring : When Micha got a vagrant Levite , Judg . 17. he Forthwith expected g●eat Prosperity ; 13 The Temple , Jer . 7.4 Temple of the Lord are these , Were idle words ; did idle people please : The Church , the Church , is such an empty noise , Where with some vaunt , that vaunt themselves of toys ▪ Even such was this poor Ark ; an empty shew When God o th Covenant himself withdrew ▪ Could less be look'd for , when such Priests were by ? When 't had such Cattel in its company . 6. The Philistins the noise and news did hear : Thinking the Hebrew , God was there , did fear . Did the Philistins fear ? 7. fear all ye slighters , In any case , , gainst God , to be found fighters . Wo unto us they cry , 't was never thus ; They 're mighty Gods ; who shall deliver us ? 'T was never thus ? Extravagancies use The inconsiderate vulgar to amuse . 8. Those are the Gods , that them from Egypt brought ; That in the Wilderness such Wonders wrought . Have none , 9. but these , heard Egypts Prodigies ? Wilderness-works ? ( Open , O Lord , mens ●yes ! ) Now quit your selves like men , lest they be seen To be our Lords , that have our vassals been . Like men ! like devils : for what mortal he Dares to oppose , where God but seems to be ? But Tyranny is loth to lose its profit : They 'l try to hold their slaves , what e're comes of it . 10. They fought like men indeed ; for Israel Were smitten , fled , and thirty thousand fell ; 11. And ( which was worst ) the Ark of God they gain ; And ( which was just ) the Sons of Eli slain . Thus the poor Ark ( an Idol made ) is taken ; Nor helps it self , nor them , of God forsaken . Thus threats are prov'd in their most sad conclusions , Nor Melancholy fancies , nor delusions . 12. A Benjamite that day to Shiloh fled , With Garments rent , and earth upon his head . Sad news comes Thundring home , and rending hearts ; As lightning quick , or feathred , wounding darts . 13. He came , where Eli by the way did fit , Who for the Ark was in a trembling fit : Not only for the danger , which appear'd , But conscious of the cause , of what he fear'd . He told the Citizens , they all cry'd out ; 14. Eli does hear ; demand what means the rout : In hast the man comes in ; the story told 1. To him ( who now was ninety eight years old . ) 17. Israel is fled ; that could not but affect him : With a great slaughter ; that must more deject him : Thy Sons are also dead ; that 's nigher to him : The Ark is taken ; that quite overthrew him : 18. For then he fell , old , heavy , and dime-ye'd , He backwards fell , he brake his neck and dy'd : He fell from off the feat , where he had sate Forty years judging Israel in the gate . There lay a Iudg condemn'd , and executed : There lay a Purifying Priest polluted : Slain like a sacrifice : one in disgrace . Of reverend age , and honourable place ; As man , ( we may believe ) good in the main ; As Father ; by his fondness justly slain . God gave him raynes , but ( as is sadly shown ) Throwing them on the mad Colts necks ; he 's thrown . His grace , and bad-good nature long contended ; When this o'recame , it Tragically ended . When Phineas pregnant Widow heard of all ; 19. Th' Arks loss , her Fathers , and her Husbands fall ; She cry'd , 21. gone is our glory with our God : She dy'd , 22. and nam'd Posthumous * * That is Where is the Glory Ichabod The glory gone from Israel doth she cry ? Wast with the brethren in iniquity ? No ; though they ruffled it , yet infamous . Were they in life , in death calamitous . Or did old Elie's loss their glory dim ? Alas ! his glory 's lost , e're they lost him . No , no , it was the Ark ; for it was there , God's glory shone upon their Hemisphere . She dy'd regardless of her Pr●geny , Crush'd in the ruines of her Family : Her breath shortn'd by death , short'ns the story ; She breaths all in a word , GONE IS OUR GLORY .

The Second Part . THE RECOVERY . THe joll Philistins do homeward hie , Ch. 5.1 . With th' Ark , a Trophee of their victory : From † † Ch. 7.1 Eben●ezer ( other while , 't is true , A stone of help , now none , when God withdrew . ) To Ashdod , 2. there , their house of gods to stock ▪ In Dagon's house they set it by their block . The God of Israel does much abhor it : In Dagons house ? Dagon must tumble for it : For , when they early came ● perhaps to see How well the ark and Dagon could agree , 3. They found their Idol faln ; before the place , Where stood the Ark , Dagon lay on his face . Let s turn our thoughts a while , and view the damp Is cast upon their triumph ; see them stamp ; Tear their hairs ; beat their breasts , perplext to see Their captive-present conqueror to be : Let s view the secret power , and equity , That moves the work of this Catastrophie . The Ark was Gods appointment ; mans conceit Was Dagon , and his worship butla cheat . Humane inventions on the ground must lie , Though shoulder'd up by power and policy , ●ek . 43.8 . If this be seen in a Philistian land , Can post by pillar in the Temple stand ? 4. They set him up again , and on the morrow . They find him down again , more to their sorrow , Without , or head , or hand , there lay the lump : Only to Dagon now was left the stump . If one fair fall does not make them give o're Their Wrestlings with the Lord , he 'l give them more . The former down-fall gently did bespeak'em , And warn them to submit ; the next will break ' em . 5. Therefore , nor Priests , nor Worshippers , will tread Upon the threshold , where he lost his head . And what is done for men of like conditions , To cure them , does augment their superstitions : r . 51.9 . Thus Babylon will not be heal'd at all : Therefore shall irrecoverably fall : Without advising-head , or helping-hand Was now their God ; but heavy on the Land . 6. The hand of Israel's God , the Lord of hosts , Was upon Ashdod , and on all its coasts ; With Emerods smote he them . — he so thinks fit , While th' Ark's detain'd , they shall not easy sit . ●ek . 13.20 . They may sow pillows , cushions , to be eas'd ; But 't will not do , while God remains displeas'd . 7. The men of Ashdod , when they saw 't was so ; When they perceiv'd the cause of all their wo ; They said , let 's keep the Ark of God no more , Whose hand on us , and Dagon , lies so sore . The eyes of Dagonites are open'd , who Discern for what they 're plagu'd and what to do . Would others , that have felt the hand of God , Would learn of Philistines to hear the rod : 8. They call their Lords , their Law-givers , to tell , What should be done with th' Ark of Israel : ●ho ( loath as yet to let it go ) consent , Such was the wisdom of that Parliament ) ●o have it had about to Gath ; they 'l try Experiments , if there 't wil quiet lye . Thus were the Syrian privy Councellors wife . When they their King so gravely did advise To try the Plain , 1 Kin . 20.22 . and promis'd him success ; When in the event they found it nothing less . Nothing does more 'gainst men God's anger fix , Then when they think to baffle him with tricks . Their law is put in Execution , To Gath 't is carry'd ; 9. see what comes thereon : See if the laws of men will bear them out . And justifie their tumbling it about : A very sore destroying whipping-rod Of an avenging , of an angry God . With Emerods also did he smite them all , Princes , and People , high , low , great , and small . Who share in sin , must sorrows also share , What state , or quality , soe're they are . Whilst in their secret parts those Emerods be , Th' afflicted felt , what others could not see : Much like the secret smarts , and inward twinging Of seared hearts , when they are further singeing . The men of Gath , 10. thus wearied with 't , would have it To Ekron sent ; the Ekronites do wave it . They would not have the stone so burthensome , Zach. 12.3 . The builders breaking , grinding stone to come Within their quarters , Mat . 21.44 . for that they had seen it Hurtful to others ; they 'l not meddle in it . They all cry'd out , With us it shall not stay : They 've brought the Ark to us , that us will slay . What if it do ? their Lords seem to reply ; Die Martyrs of our Laws , your loyalty . 'T is four to one ; the major part out-vote you ; If you obey not , factious we must note you . On t'other hand , the Ekronites do seem , For all this talk , much other wise to deem . We think it neither faction , nor treason , T' appeal from you to common sense , and reason . If 't be a law , repeal't ; there 's nought , but need ; And make another better in its stead . 11. They congregate their Lords , and them petition , Oh send it to its place with expedition . For if it here with us do longer stay , The hand of God will sweep us all away : 12. Many were dead ; the rest were sick ; the cry Of all the City mounted to the sky . The sky does Eccho't back unto the ground ; And all their neighbours hear the doleful sound . 6.1 . Sev'n months by them the Ark had been restrain'd : ( But if seven years with them 't had been detain'd , What work would it have made ? sure at this rate Th' ad all been gone , and their land desolate . ) And that it is not so in other places , Where th' Ark's expos'd to manifold disgraces ; 1 The appointed worship of the Lord forbidden , And many of his useful talents hidden ; Where the Ark , and Samuel are separated ; That such a people are not desolated , It only can ascribed be to this , That God long suffering , and patient is : 2. Priests and Diviners next to Convocation to ( To save the remnant of a ruin'd Nation ) Are call'd and ask'd ; How shall we do ( we pray ) In sending of this Ark of God away ? We can not keep it longer , need , must send it : Tell us , but how we may not more offend it . 3 It seems among the Lords they had no places ; No ●●oters , but advisers in the cases To them propos'd : they are demanded now , Not what is to be done ; but only how . In any wise let it not empty go , ( Say they ) but with a Trespass-offring : so You shall do , what in justice does become you ; And know why 's hand is not removed from you . Five Emerods , and five Mice of gold , for all The five Philistian Lords , 4. on whom did fall The common Plague ; and peradventure these The offended God of Iacob shall appease . Give Glory to the God of Israel , 5. ●nd per adventure then shall all be well . Why then like Pharaoh , 6. and th' Egyptians are ye ? Who could not force the Israelites to tarry ; Their God wrought wonders on those stubborn-hearted ; Made them to let them go , and they departed . 'T is strange , and w at could never be expected From such : Idolaters , unless directed , As Balaam the Witch : such good advise , Such sober words , whence could they have their rise ? Do but observe the principle within ; You 'l find it fear , not faith , and therefore sin : On Peradventures only they proceed ; They could not hope , that God would do 't indeed Make a new Cart , tye to 't two kine , from whom Unus'd to draw , 7. shut up their calves at home ; Lay the Ark on it ; 8. therein let it ride : The Jewels in a coffer by its side : Then let it go ; 9. and let us trial make ; ●f the way to Bethshemeth then it take , Then 't was indeed their God , did thus undo us : If not ; then 't was a chance did happen to us . A chance ? blind Wizards ! Is not yet the hand Of God above perceiv'd against the Land ? Shall Fortune rob wise , and just Providence ? If you want Faith , where 's Reason ? where is Sence ? When men will still for Signes and Wonders call , The last experiment's their final fall . ●ll this was done according as instructed ; 10. ●nd God himself homewards the Ark conducted ; ●he unaccustom'd heifers do not stray ; 11. ●ut to Bethshemeth keep the ready way . brutes , that act only by ivstinct , may earken to God , and nature disobey ; No wonder , men of conscience , do prefer Gods laws , before the laws of men that err . Nor doubt I , if the Gospel might go free , 'T would run its own course , and most glorious be . Lowing back to their Calves they onward go , To see , if possibly it could be so . The Philistins do follow to the borders : See Nature's God inverting Nature's orders . 13. The Bethshemites were reaping in the Fields , When th' Ark to them a joyful object yields , Harvest's a joyful time to all ; then more , When God his Ark to Israel did restore , But 't is as sad to them , that think , and say , The Ark in Harvest-time was ta'ne away . The food for bodies will not much delight , Where there wants food for spiritual appetite . 14. The Cart came into Ioshuah's grounds , and stood At the great stone : ev'n there they clave the wood O' th' Cart ; therewith the beasts to God they burn'd 16. This seen , the Lords o' th' Philistins return'd : 17. Left Mice , and Emerods , for each City one ; Gath , Ekron , Gaza , Ashdod , Askelon . Mice marr'd the Land , and Emerods hurt the men They left Memorials of both ; and then Return'd , return'd ? methinks they should have stai● And with the Israelites to God have pray'd , Whereas they only saw 't ; 't is poor to see A sacrifice , and not partakers be . Th' ad joyn'd in worship , been with Israel one ; Had their Conviction been Conversion : 2 Pet . 2.22 . But dogs will to their vomit ; swine to mire ; Philistins to be Philistins desire . They care not to be priviledg'd by God ; They only care how to escape his rod . Where the Cart stay'd , they sacrific'd ; the place Their holy thankfulness does not disgrace ; But rather dignifies ; such quick address , Suitable to their present thankefulness Is better than thanks-givings in disguise . Of fine conceited for mal pageantries . Thus far 't was well ; 19. but wrath ( at last alas ) Against the Bethshemites enkindled was ; For that into the Ark irreverently They look 't ; for which 'bove fifty thousand die . Irreverence will be punish'd in professors , As well as irreligion in oppressors . Too hot the Ark was for its rude bereavers ; Too heavy likewise for its rude receivers . They greatly do lament their loss , and cry'd ; Who can before this holy Lord abide ? How jealous is our God! 20. Can any tell ? Who can with everlasting burnings dwell ? Isa . 33.2 To whom shall he go up from us ? they sent To Kiriath-jearim and represent , How the Philistins brought the Ark again : Ch. 7.1 Pray them to fetch it , with them to remain . They bring it up , where Twenty years it rested : Eleazar for its keeping is invested . There with Abinadab it stay'd , 2. until David remov'd it to its holy hill . Rest , O rest , thou Ark of strength , After tossings to and fro ; Quietly repose at length , After storms do over blow . Noah's Ark thus quiet sat After the flood on Ararat . Now thy wicked Priests are outed ; Dagon's faln to the ground ; Wearied Philistins are routed ; Bold Peepers have a mortal wound ; All thine enemies are crush'd ; About thee all the noise is hush'd . Only , let poor Israel's Lamenters for thy privacy Have access to him , Ch. 7.2 . that dwells In thee : ( and yet remains on high . ) True Worshippers can never be Content , without approach to thee . ●eut . 10. ●5 . The manuscript of God on high , The copy of his Sacred Will Is treasur'd in thy cavity : Glories of heaven do thee fill . The embleme of his presence lies In thee the type of Mysteries . ●xod 37. ●7 . The Mercy-seat is plac't alost ; On that the * * 〈◇〉 Cherubims do ride ; From thence the Oracles are sought ; For that the Lord does there reside . ●uitare . How can a soul , that is devout , Such heavenly glories be without ? O thou God o' th' Covenant The Ark o' th' Covenant us restore ; Vouchsa e therewith such grace to grant , That we may forfeit it no more . Let Covenant-mercy Covenant-servants free From those , that Covenant-contemners be .

Now sing to the praise and glory of God , a part of the 2 Psal . beginning at the 10 vers . Now O ye , &c. As it is meeter'd by Simple Honesty , use this old translation well ; if you will not , use a better .

FINIS .