Book I, 84: On the change of Pharoe's fortunes

Observe what peace great Pharo's kingdom found
while Ioseph liv'd; what prospro blessigs round
His happy dayes! Heav'ns plague-inficting hand
Was then a stranger to his peacefull Land:
Peace was entyl'd upon his Royall Thron;
His Land had Plenty, when the World had none;
His full desiers over-flowd their Brim,
Favors cam downe unaskt, unsought by him:
His Scepter florish'd, from a God unknown,
No need to troble any of his owne:
While Ioseph liv'd, his Blessings had no end;
That God was his, whil'st he was Iosephs Frend:
These temp'rall Blessings heav'n doth, often, share
Vnto the wicked, at the Good-mans Prayer:
But Ioseph dyes: And Iosphs Sons must fall
Beneath their Burthens, and be scourg'd withall;
Whilst Tyrant Pharoh's more severer hand
Keeps them laborious Pris'ners in his Land:
God oft permits his Children to be hurld
Into distresse, to weane them from the world:
But Pharohs Blessings alter with his Brow;
The budding Scepter's turn'd a Serpent now:
His Land must groan; her plagues must still encrease,
Till Iacobs Off-spring shall find Iacobs peace;
Gods Children are the Apples of his Eye,
Whose touch is death, if beeing toucht, they cry:
Now Tyrant Pharoh dares no longer chuse,
Israel must goe: Pharoh, repents, pursues;
Pharoh wants Brick; Pharoh, ere long, I feare,
Will find the purchase of his Brick too deare:
Moses holds forth his Rod: The Seas divide;
The Waves are turn'd to Walls on either side:
They passe secure; Pharoh pursues them still:
God leaves his Children to the brunt of Ill:
The Chariot- Wheeles flye off, the Harnesse cracks;
One wants a Nayle; the next, a Hammer lacks:
How Man is cross'd and puzzel'd in that Plot,
Where Heav'n denyes successe, and prospers not!
Moses holds forth his Rod: The Easterne wind
Calls backe the Tydes: The parted Waters ioynd,
And overwhelmd great Pharo and Pharoes Host;
None scap'd to ell the newes: All drownd, and lost:
Thus thrives Rebellion: Plagues, nor doing good,
Oft-times conclude their Ceremony in Blood:
Thus hardned hearts grow more and more obdure;
And Heav'n cuts off, when Earth is most secure.