Heavenly pastime, or, Pleasant observations on all the most remarkable passages throughout the Holy Bible of the Old and New Testament newly allegoriz'd in several delightful dialogues, poems, similitudes, and divine fancies / by John Dunton, author of The sickmans passing-bell.

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Title
Heavenly pastime, or, Pleasant observations on all the most remarkable passages throughout the Holy Bible of the Old and New Testament newly allegoriz'd in several delightful dialogues, poems, similitudes, and divine fancies / by John Dunton, author of The sickmans passing-bell.
Author
Dunton, John, 1627 or 8-1676.
Publication
London :: Printed for John Dunton ...,
1685.
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Subject terms
Bible -- Paraphrases, English.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A36900.0001.001
Cite this Item
"Heavenly pastime, or, Pleasant observations on all the most remarkable passages throughout the Holy Bible of the Old and New Testament newly allegoriz'd in several delightful dialogues, poems, similitudes, and divine fancies / by John Dunton, author of The sickmans passing-bell." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A36900.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 5, 2025.

Pages

CHAP. X. Giveing a full account of the Building of the Tower of Babel. (Book 10)

Gen. 11.
To Build up Babel, Adams Race decree, As high as Heaven what passeth there to see; God gives them Diverse Tongues their thoughts to cross; One calls for Morter, and one bringeth Mosse.

SO it happened not long after this that the Inhabi∣tants of the Earth feeling the Justice of their own Consciences, and they not calling upon God, they feared the comming of another Deluge, so they re∣solv'd to build a Tower, and raise the top of it even as high as the Clouds. The chief Under∣taker of this famous Structure was the Gyant ••••m∣rod, Grandchild to that Reprobate Cham, who dis∣covered his Fathers shame. This Architect was of a proud Nature, and of a Capricious humour, be∣lieving that his enterprises, and his designs, were to be executed without the least opposition.

Page 45

In effect, never was any work undertaken, and advanced with more Expedition, nor with more Ar∣dor, Zeal, and Submission. But the Grand design∣er of the World, the Architect of the Universe, and the generall Producer of all things, who takes de∣light to confound the Wisdom of the Wie, and to overthrow the Plots, and Enterpries of the most Powerfull, beholding these Fortifications rais'd neer mid-way, and being able no longer to endure this Audacity, and these presumptuous Attempts, re∣solv'd at last to overturn all these Fort, and to cast a generall confusion of Tongues amongst the Car∣penters, and Masons. This made a Tower of Ba∣bel, that is to say of Disorder, War, and Confusion. This Stately Building, this lofty Cittadell, this im∣pregnable Fort, was but a Labyrinth of deaf and dumb people, who spake without hearing one ano∣ther, & cry'd out when it was not in any mans pow∣er 〈◊〉〈◊〉 help them.

Bring me quoth one a Trowl, quickly, quick; One brings him up a Hammer: Hew this Brick Another bids, and then they cleave a Tree; Mak fast this Rope, and then they let it flee; One calls for Planks, another Mortar lacks, They bring, the first a Stone, the last an Ax; One would have Spiks▪ and him a Spade they give; Aothr asks a Saw, and gets a Sive: Ths crosl-rst thy prae and point in vain, What ne hah mae, a••••ther Mars again. Nih Br••••••••lss all with t••••ir confused yawling, In 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lbour now begins appawling. In Brif, thse l••••••rs sein the Storm arriv'd. Of Gods jst Wrath, all wek 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Heart depriv'd, Forske their purpose, and like Frantick Fools, Scatter thir stuff, and tumble down their Tools.

Behold the Enterprises and Designs of the World▪

Page 46

Behold the Structure of the Gyants of the Earth, and the Sanctuary of their Pride.

Vanity of this World! Glory of a few dayes! Phantasms of the Earth! seeming beauties! Men, what doe you think? and why I beseech you, so ma∣ny Houses, so many Castles, Cities and Villages? cast your Eyes on the Tower of Babel, and dread at least the fate of the like disastr. Finally then make your Wills, Ingrave your Epitaphs, seek out six or seaven Foot of Earth, and from henceforth think on∣ly on erecting your Tombs. Go, consult your Ancestors, your Fathers, and Masters; cast your selves at their Feet, enter into their Sepulchers, search into the bottom of their Monuments, and be not affrighted to behold so many ravell'd Crowns, so many broken Scepters, and so much Purple ser∣ving only to cover Worms.

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