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.

A Dialogical Discourse between Isaiah and Hezekiah, relating to the fifteen Addi∣tional Years.

The Argument.

The Syrians, by the wastful Angel slain, Jerusalem is freed, but then again, Good Hezekiah sickens, and is bid To order all things as a man but dead: Yet prayers and tears prevail; for whilst he prays, God fifteen years does add unto his days.

Hez.

HOw, — set my House in order; why must death with his cold hand, make Iudah Kingless, whil••t in Tears the Widdow Nation drowns, and the calm Air is tormented with her sighs?

Isa.

'Tis the Decree of him that gave you life, and has preserved you to this day; by him I am commissioned to relate the doleful message, and command you to prepare for immortality.

Hez.

Dye! O terrible; the very thoughts of Death affright me more than the Convulsions of expiring life can pain! O! Can it be, that he who ruled the chosen Seed, whose hand so long has held a golden Scepter, and every where received the loud applauses of the glad Plebeans, must in the prime of strength and glory, have his luster shro••ded in a Grave; and there be made the sport and food of crawling Worms.

Isa.

Consider Sir, that you was born to dye; and

that stern death claims as his due, the lives of Adams Sons, as forfeited by our great Parent, and subjected to his power; nor can the glittering vanities, in whom frail men too often put their confidence, keep back his shaft a moment, when his Commission is to seize their breath; therefore let not the King delay to set his house in order.

Hez.

O fatal sound! but stay good Prophet, stay, is there no mercy for your King? must, must his rising Sun so soon endure a black Eclipse; his life so soon set in the gloomy Grave? O for a longer course of days, that I might live, if but to tell of all the wonders God has done for wretched me! O with what adoration wou'd I bend before the footstool of his mercy-seat, would he be but in∣treated for my life.

Isa.

Vrge it n•• more; Deaths Harbinger I am, nor will the ghastly Terror long delay the execution; there∣fore be wise O King, and do as I have bid before it be too late, before the King of Judah be no more.

Hez.

Alas! Alas! The strong Disease by preying on the vital powers, has weakned me to that de∣gree, that now I am unfit to take recognisance of worldly things, I know not what my Treasures are, nor how to call my Fields and Vineyards by their proper names; nor can I tell the number of my Servants, nor whom I design the Scepter of Ierusalem: I have put off too long these matters, and now through fear and sickness, am quite unca∣pable of stating 'em; but could I live, I'de be no more so negligent.

Isa.

Your hopes of life I fear are vain, therefore consider well what I have said; and think them not my words, but his on whom the breath of life depends: and so great King, in Tears I take my leave.

Hez.

O stay▪ thou sacred Prophet stay, if but to close the wretched eyes of an expiring Monarch▪ Hah, will not the man of God vouchsafe to see his

King put off his Scepter, Crown, and Robes of Ma∣jesty, to be soon clad with vile corruption, loath∣some putrefaction, and deserted by his cringing Courtiers, who will fly the scent, and turn their faces to adore the rising Sun. O now too plain I know, that all the glories of the world are fading shadows; things not worth our smallest care. — But see, the Prophet is return'd, and my heart leapeth with joy, in expectation of some milder sentence. Speak, speak most sacred seer, is there not yet some hopes of a Reprieve for poor con∣demned Hezekiah.

Isa.

There is: the God of mercy has inclined his Ear to your low supplication; your humility has conquer'd his displeasure, and melted▪ him into compassion: Fifteen years are added unto your days, and for a sign of confir∣mation, Heavens glorious Lamp shall Retrograd•• no less than ten degrees upon the Dial of Ahaz.

Hez.

I am confirmed, and dare not be so bold as to dispute ought further, than the sign he is pleased to seal his mercy with.

Isa.

See then 'tis done; and now it much concerns you to imploy this large addition to the Glory of the Donor.

Hez.

That shall be all my care; nor will I dare to displease that God that has shew'd such favour to his worthless Servant as this, to snatch him from the Jaws of death, and respite his declining body from the Grave.

Conclusion.

Thus Hezekiah lives beyond his date, And joys to think of his revived fate, Walking uprightly till the time expires, And then surrenders as grim death requires▪