ANGEL

Amaze not man of God, if in the spirit Th'art brought from Jewry unto Nineveh, So was Elias wrapped within a storm, And set upon mount Carnell by the Lord, For thou hast preached long to the stubborn Jews, Whose flinty hearts have felt no sweet remorse, But lightly valuing all the threats of God, Have still perseuerd in their wickedness. Lo I have brought Thee unto Nineveh, The rich and royal City of the world, Pampered in wealth, and overgrown with pride, As Sodom and Gomorrha full of sin, The Lord looks down, and cannot see one good, Not one that covets to obey his will, But wicked all, from Cradle to the Cruch. Note then Oseas all their grievous sins, And see the wrath of God that pays revenge. And when the ripeness of their sin is full, And thou hast written all their wicked through, I'll carry Thee to Jewry back again, And seat Thee in the great Jerusalem, There shalt thou publish in her open streets, That God sends down his hateful wrath for sin, On such as never herd his Prophets speak, Much more will he inflict a world of plagues, On such as hear the sweetness of his voice, And yet obey not what his Prophets speak, Fit Thee Oseas pondering in the spirit, The mightiness of these found peoples sins, Jonas arise, get Thee to Nineveh, And preach to them the preachings that I bade: Haste Thee to see the will of heaven performed. Oseas. Art thou so angry Jonas ? tell me why? Jonas art thou so angry for the vine? Thou hast compassion Jonas on a vine, On which thou never labour didst bestow, Thou never gavest it life or power to grow, But suddenly it sprung, and suddenly died. And should not I have great compassion On Nineveh the City of the world, Wherein there are a hundred thousand souls, And twenty thousand infants that ne wot The right hand from the left, beside much cattle. O Jonas, look into their Temples now, And see the true contrition of their King: The subjects tears, the sinners true remorse. Then from the Lord proclaim a mercy day, For he is pitiful as he is joust. Now hath thine eyes perused these heinous sins, Hateful unto the mighty Lord of hosts, The time is come, their sins are waxed ripe, And though the Lord forewarns, yet they repent not: Custom of firm hath hardened all their hearts, Now comes revenge armed with mighty plagues, To punish all that live in Nineveh, For God is joust as he is merciful, And doubtless plagues all such as scorn repent, Thou shalt not see the desolation That falls unto these cursed Ninivites, But shalt return to great Jerusalem, And preach unto the people of thy God, What mighty plagues are incident to sin, Unless repentance mitigate his ire: Wrapped in the spirit as thou Wertenberg hither brought, I'll seat Thee in Judea's provinces, Fear not Oseas then to preach the word. Amithai, son, I charge Thee muse no more, (I am) hath power to pardon and correct, To Thee pertains to do the Lords command. Go girded thy loins, and hast Thee quickly hence, To Nineveh, that mighty City weened, And say this message from the Lord of hosts, Preach unto them thse tidings from thy God. Behold thy wickedness hath tempted me, And pierced through the ninefold orbs of heaven, Repent, or else thy judgement is at hand.