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Poor Agar's banish'd from Old Sara's Face, With Ishmael, the wildest of his Race; Through unknown Paths they Range, till by a Spring Sitting, Gods Angel to them Ioy doth bring.
IN fine, Heaven hath heard the vows and prayers of Abraham: Isaack is born, and Sara is so much
ravished at the sight of this happy prodigy that she can hardly believe what she sees.
What a wonder is it to see this Child of Tears and Desires become an object of a ravishing Joy. Sara art thou afraid that the life of thy Son will bring thee death, and that the excess of a joy so little expected, will even melt thy heart? For my part I allready ap∣prehend lest the pastime of Isaack and Ishmael prove the occasion of a quarel, and that at last either the Mother or Child must be chased away: In effect, Sara could not endure the sight of Agar and Ishmael, she intreats Abraham to put both of them out of his House. But Abraham who hath the tenderness of a Father for Ishmael, cannot condescend to her desires. It seems to this good Man that the severing of Isaack and Ishmael would even cut his heart in two. There is a necessity Nevertheless of obeying the request of Sara, for God commands Abraham in this occasion to execute all his injunctions, with promise that notwith¦standing all contrary appearances Isaack and Ishmael shall be the first Seeds of a most ample and happy posterity.
What pitty was it to see this poor Handmaid enter with her Son into a solitary and uninhabited Desart, and leave a plentifull House, where she had ever lived as a Mistriss?
What pitty was it to see Agar and Ishmael in the de∣sarts of Bersheba with hunger and thirst, and in a gener∣all want of all the conveniencies of Nature, will not men believe them to be as it were dead in the World, and a∣live in a Tomb? What hope is there amongst Stones and Rocks? What society in the midst of Woods, where no∣thing is heard but cryes, and roarings of Monsters? What succour amidst Wild places, and out of the Road of men? What light under the shades of Pits and Caverns, where the Sun dares not approach? What means of Livelihood, where all Animals are dead? Where nothing but fright∣full Dens are seen, but aride sandes, and some old Trunk
of a Tree, without Branches, Leaves; or Fruits?
What then will Agar doe, she hath no more Wa∣ter nor Bread? And mean while her life, her Love and hear dear Ishmael can no longer endure the tor∣ments of hunger and thirst; he is already constrain∣ed to stay at the foot of a Tree, and there to cast forth loud cryes; Distressed Mother, what will you do? What a happiness would it be for you to die first that you might not die twice? Sara what have you done? Abraham where are you? Ah God! What grief is it unto a Mother to see between her Arms the Tomb of her Son?
Ismael hath now lost his speech, he is without hope, and Agar abandons him as no longer able to live, seeing her heart half dead before her Eyes.
Farewell Ismael, farewell poor Orphan, farewell all the affections and hopes of Agar.
And when any Man shall chance to pass by this solitary place, let him ingrave upon this Trunk, that here Agar and her Son found their exile, their Death, and at lengt•• their Monument.
Gen. 21. Why Weep'st thou Hagar, 'tis not lack of Love To thee, or thine; J••hova from above, Hath so Commanded, Agar be content! That's Destiny, which thou d••emest Punishment.
Agar what do you say? Is this the hope you repose in God? And are these the promises he made unto A∣braham? Ah! do you not know that Heaven hath Eyes alwayes open to Innocency, and the least of Ishmaels sighs is able to draw God into this Desart?
In effect, when Agar was removed a flight shot, from Ishmael, as she sent forth her Cryes after the Moanings of her Son, an Angel called her by her Name, and said unto her,
Goe Agar, and return to thy Son, take him by the
hand, and reanimate this little dying Body. O God! who will not admire thy sage Providence, and the miraculous conduct of thy Designs.
Now now tis with my Sarah as our glorious Guest presaged, how then my Love, my Life, my Sole delight, how cou'd it be that you durst doubt the great decree of Heaven, and with a smile, as at a tale Incredible, reflect upon omnipotence.
My Lord, I own I could not then believe what now I find true as the Eternal Oracle that speak it▪ and therefore blush with much confusion, that I gave no more belief to so much Veritie.
Even so you ought, and with unfeigned Tears bewaile the unadvized Laughter, you deny'd and prostrate on the Ground, implore his pardon for so great a crime.
That I have done long since, and learn'd to know I am but Dust, not worthy to dispute his will who ma••e me and the World of Nought, and with his Word is able to reduce all things to their Original.
'Tis well resolved, nor ever must we dare displease that Majesty under whose feet bright bla∣zing Thunders burn. The God whose presence melts the Mountains, and whose Looks dries up the deep, who holds the winds in the hollow of his hand, and makes Creation tremble at his Word.
If not for fear, through Love we ought with low Submission to revere that tremendious Majesty who has done such wonders for us.
Wonders indeed, and past our numbring for who can count the Endless Blessings he with plen∣teous hands has showr'd upon our heads, since first we lest Vrr of the Chaldees; nay with what fa∣vours does he Load us still.
'Tis true my Lord, his bounty has compleatly stored us with what ever we could wish to gain us high Esteem amongst the Nations of the East; so dreaded and renowned has his signal blessings rendered you that at your sight the Supl•• Knees of Pagans bend, and s••ep∣••••rd Mo••arcks court your Smile, making your Friendship t••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 h••p••s of their Ambition.
Nay more, he by his power in••lines the roughest Na••ions to such Mildness for our sakes, that even Abim••lech the cruelest of Men, haveing snatch∣ed you from my Arms, return'd your unstained beau∣ties without War, repenting the rash deed and begg∣ing my devotion.
Happy, even wonderous h••ppy are all they that put their ••rus•• in him, who takes such care of those that love his Name; therefore O that Men wou'd praise the Lord.
'Tis just they should return him with un∣feigne•• Lips, tribute of Praise, and ever more be thankfull for the many mercys they receive, nor will we or our Children be wanting in this Duty.
Indeed we ought not, for a thankfull heart is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the mighty King requires for all he gives to Mort••ll M••n.
'Tis that indeed beyond all ceremonies that can please him most, but see the Glorious Sun de∣clyns, and Night with her Sable Mantle waits at the portals of the Eastern skie to cloath the World in Darkness; Therefore let us to our Tent, and there er'e Slumber close our Eyes, pay our vows to him that is our Soveraign protector.
My Lord, I am all obedience, for so it still be∣comes a Wife to be to him whom Heaven appoints her head.
How is the famous Sodom sunk with cattaracts of Fire? How dreadfully the flame∣ing Storm on fearfull Wings decended, and how narrowly we escaped the sad Destruction?
'Tis true we escaped by Mira∣cle, the Firey Clouds began to drop Ciconian Sulphur e're we reacht the Gate, nor could we escape to Zoar e're Sodom and Gomorrha lay in Ashes.
It grieves me much for those of our relations that we left behind, but for our Mo∣ther more whose curiosity to see her Habitation blazing turn'd her to a Monument to stand the gaz•• of all that pass the plains.
Our Father now is all the comfort we have left, and now are we again become exiles, and must still wander in strange Lands without any fix'd abideing place.
'Tis true, yet me thinks had we entered into Nuptial bands, and in our pregnant
Wombs contained the dear pledges of Conjujal Love, it would have been the greatest comfort we can think.
You can not more desire that happy∣ness than I, O methinks I long to see a little smiling Boy upon my Knee! The very thoughts of such a bless∣ing transports me.
There is but one way seeing we are in a strange Land and Husbandless.
And what is that? O let me hear it! My Heart leaps at the sound of such a Sentence.
You know our Father to drive strange cares from his aged Heart, addicts himself to Wine, and we out of pretence of kindness may urge him to take excess, and in the night when hor∣rid shades o're casts the World, one of us may steal into his Arms, and with warm beauty charm him into youthfull Vigor.
But he's our Father and can that be Lawful. Know you not 'twas sin that sunk the flame∣ing Cities and disobedience that reaft us of our Mo∣ther.
But that this is sin I am not well assured, however there is a necessity of raising up posterity, or else our names will be forgotten.
If I thought Heavens anger would ••ot burn against us, I could joyfully comply with what ••ou say.
Trust it for once, and see our Father with weary steps returning from the Field, no better night then what insues to put our design in practise, the first nig••t is mine the second shall be yours, nor will he when his Heart is merry and his sences stupefied remember that my Mother i•• lost, but as we slide into his Arms think he embra∣ces her.
Well you shall rule me, and as you direct I'll steer my course in this lov'd longed for and so important business.
Then let us hast to meet him, and bid him well-come-home.
Go and I'll follow with as much delight as when I traced the Str••••ts of Sodom, and grew proud to hear my beauty praised by every breath above the Daughters of the Land.