Their joys and griefs, their sufferings, pains, were by His will.
Their stratagems dictated by their God were, all.[146]
‘Who comes of gentle blood, will gentle words let fall.’[147]
Their traps have taken angels with the baits they placed.
Their seeming slips and faults were all by wisdom traced.80
Exert thyself, O man; put shoulder to the wheel,
The prophets and the saints to imitate in zeal.
Exertion’s not a struggle against Providence.
’Twas Providence enjoined it,—made it our defence.
Blasphemer may I be, if ever single man