st at once ten Tribes of _Israel_.
No people were more ready to obey
Their Kings, who rul'd them by a gentle Sway,
Who never sought their Consciences to curb,
Their Freedom or Religion to disturb.
To such they always open-hearted were,
For them, they neither Coin, nor Blood would spare.
Such Kings might their Prerogatives improve,
And rule the _Jews_, ev'n as they pleas'd with Love;
But stiff indeed they were, and moody grew, }
When Tyrants did with cruel Stripes pursue }
Them sore oppress'd, and sometimes murmur'd too. }
Kings they had try'd of ev'ry sort and size.
Best govern'd by the Warlike and the wise.
Tho' Kings they lov'd, and for them Reverence had,
They never would adore them as a God.
God's Worship, and their Laws they did prefer,
They knew, them men might by bad Councils Err.
Tho' Loyal, yet oppress'd, they did not fear
To make their heavy Grievances appear.
This was indeed the Humor of the _Jew_,
The People by Complaints their Griefs would shew;
And never would, in truth, contented seem,
Untill redress'd by their wise _Sanhedrim_.
Thus now the _Jews_, tho' free from ill Design,
In their Religious Cause together joyn:
They cast their Eyes on _Amazia_'s Son,
Who, without Arts the People's Love had won:
Full of tormenting Jealousies and Fears,
_Eliakim_ a dangerous man appears:
The sober part of the whole _Sanhedrim_,
Desire to keep _Judea's_ Crown from him:
For they foresaw if he should wear the Crown,
_Baal_'s Worship he'd set up, and God's cast down:
That all the Nations must be Slaves to _Baal_,
Suffer in Flames, fly, or 'fore Idolls fall.
Great were their Fears, but yet they did abhor
The very Thought of a dishonest War:
For they had seen the Kingdom's many Scarrs,
Th' unseemly Marks of former Civil Wars.
They _Amazia_ lov'd and wish'd him well,
Resolve to suffer rather than rebell;
Yet openly declare free from all Stain,
How much they hate a _Baalite_ should Reign;
And for this Cause, and for this Cause alone,
_Eliakim_ they'd put by from the Throne.

_Eliakim_ at Court had many Friends,
By whom in Secret he could work his Ends;
So that no Accusation could remove
Him, deeply rooted in his Brother's Love.
But since the _Jews_ to him shew'd open Hate,
Lest that his presence should embroil the State;
And that the _Jews_ might have no cause to sin,
He's sent to rule the Tribe of _Benjamin_.
Thus two great Factions in _Judea_ rose, }
So hotly each the other did opp