O Lord God Adonai, and guide of the faithful house of Israel, who sometime appearedst in the flaming bush to Moses, and to him didst give a law on Mount Sinai, come now to redeem us in the strength of thy right hand. ACT VI OF THE PROPHET ESAIAS _Pater Cœlestis._ I brought up children from their first infancy, Who now despise all my godly instructions. An ox knoweth its lord, an ass its master's duty, But Israel will not know me, nor my conditions. Oh, froward people, given all to superstitions, Unnatural children, expert in blasphemies, Provoke me into hate, by their idolatries. Take heed to my words, ye tyrants of Sodoma, In vain ye offer your sacrifice to me. Discontent I am with you beasts of Gomorrah And have no pleasure when I your offerings see. I abhor your fasts and your solemnity, For your traditions my ways ye set apart, Your works are in vain, I hate them from the heart. _Esaias._ Thy city, sweet Lord, is now become unfaithful, And her conditions are turned upside down. Her life is unchaste, her acts be very hurtful, Her murder and theft have darkened her renown. Covetous rewards do so their conscience drown, That the fatherless they will not help to right, The poor widow's cause comes not before their sight. Thy peaceable paths seek they neither day nor night; But walk wicked ways after their fantasy. Convert their hearts, Lord, and give them thy true light, That they may perceive their customable folly: Leave them not helpless in so deep misery, But call them from it of thy most special grace, By thy true prophets, to their souls' health and solace. _Pater Cœlestis._ First they had fathers, then had they patriarchs, Then dukes, then judges for their guides and monarchs: Now have they stout kings, yet are they wicked still, And will in no wise my pleasant laws fulfil. Always they apply to idols' worshipping, From the vile beggar to the annointed king. _Esaias._ For that cause thou hast in two divided them, In Samaria the one, the other in Jerusalem. The king of Judah in Jerusalem did dwell, And in Samaria the king of Israel. Ten of the twelve tribes became Samaritans, And the other two were Hierosolymitans.[621] In both these countries, according to their doings, Thou permittedst them to have most cruel kings. The first of Judah was wicked king Roboam, Of Israel the first was that cruel Jeroboam; Abiah then followed, and in the other Nadab, Then Bassa, then Helah, then Zambri, Jehoram and Ahab. Then Ochesius, then Athaliah, then Joas;[622] On the other part was Jonathan and Achaz. To rehearse all them that have done wretchedly In the sight of thee, it were long verily.