An ODE MADE ON THE WELCOME NEWS OF The safe Arrival and kind Reception OF THE Scottish Collony AT Darien in America.
NOw is the time for Thanks and Praise;
Now is the time, when ev'ry Tongue
Should echo forth a joyful Song:
When Scotland with joint Notes should raise
To HEAV'N glad Consorts of Harmonious Lays.
II.
Consider SCOTS, how much ye owe
to Heaven's Protecting Pow'r above;
what mighty Tributes of your Love,
And Grateful Service should ye show!
How lowly Worship Him on Earth below!
III.
Who by His Divine Pow'r does guide
the infant weakness of your State,
and shows that He will make ye Great;
Provided ye in's Fear abide,
And from your Necks shake every yoak beside.
IV.
It's He alone, that can Chastise
our Sins; and it is He alone
that can our Blemishes Attone;
Whose awful Nod doth shake the Skies,
And all the quaking World terrifies.
V.
His Gracious over-ruling Sway
sent out a gentle prosp'rous Breeze,
to sweep our Navy o're the Seas.
In Three Moons they travers'd their way,
And safely Rode in their intended Bay.
VI.
He sooth'd the Natives savage Breasts,
and thaw'd them to Humanity
almost like Christian Charity;
They whom they dreaded worse than Beasts,
Joyn all as Brethren in their Jovial Feasts.
VII.
Their Land they freely did Resign,
and all the Treasures of their Soil,
and frankly bear a share i' th' Toil,
To carry on the Great Design,
And, for their Common Intrest, both Combine.
VIII.
He safely did conduct again,
the welcome, much desir'd Express,
confirming our Great Happiness:
He smooth'd the rageing of the Main,
And made it like a level Bowling Plain.
IX.
The Countrey now will be at ease,
the tender Mothers will no more
their Sons Ʋncertain Fate deplore;
And Indian Gold shall soon release
The Nation from its Tempral
Poverty
*Grand Disease.
X
No swarms of Beggars shall annoy,
no Vagabounds corrupt our Wealth;
but every Man that enjoys Health,
His frugal Countrey shall imploy
T'increase our Store, & crown our lasting Joy.
XI.
Let the Fourth of November stand
a lasting Feast-day on Record
as Birth-day of our Soveraign Lord,
And that on which our Darling Band
First set their Foot on Caledonia's Land.
XII.
May the first Week of that Month be
as lucky to us ever more,
as it has been in times before,
In bringing forth our Liberty
From Powder-plots and Arbitrary Tyranny.
EDINBURGH, Printed by James Watson in Craig's Closs 1699.