Among the builders; cach to other calls
Not understood, till hoarfe, and all in rage,

As mock'd they ftorm; great laughter was in
Heaven

And looking down, to fee the hubbub strange
And hear the din; thus was the building left
Ridiculous, and the work Confufion nam'd.
Whereto thus Adam fatherly difpleas'd.
O execrable fon fo to afpire
Above his brethren, to himfelf affuming
Authority ufurp'd, from God not given:
He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl,
Dominion abfolute; that right we hold
By his donation; but man over men
He made not lord; fuch title to himfulf
Referving, human left from human free.
But this ufurper his encroachment proud
Stays not on man; to God his tow'r intends
Siege and defiance: Wretched man! what food
Will he convey up thither to sustain

Himfelf and his rafh army, where thin air
Above the clouds will pine his entrails grofs,
And famifh him of breath, if not of bread?

60

65

70

75

To whom thus Michael. Juftly thou abhorr'st That fon, who on the quiet itate of men

loft, which always with right reafon dwells

80

Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes:
I fee him, but thou canst not, with what faith
He leaves his Gods, his friends, and native foil
Ur of Chaldæa, paffing now the ford
130
To Haran, after him a cumbrous train
Of herds and flocks, and numerous fervitude;
Not wand'ring poor, but trusting all his wealth
With God, who call'd him, in a land unknown.
Canaan he now attains; I fee his tents
Pitch'd about Sechem, and the neighb'ring plain
Of Morch; there by promife he receives
Gift to his progeny of all that land,
From Hamath northward to the defert fouth,
(Things by their names I call, though yet un-

nam'd).

135

140

From Hermon caft to the great western fea;
Mount Hermon, yonder fea, each place behold
In profpect, as I point them; on the fhore
Mount Carmel; here the double-founted ftream
Jordan, true limit caftward; but his fons
145
Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills.
This ponder, that all nations of the earth
Shall in his feed be blefs'd; by that feed
Is meant thy great deliverer, who fhall bruife
The ferpent's head; whereof to thee anon 150
Plainlier fhall be reveal'd. This patriarch blef,
Whom faithful Abraham due time fhall call,
A fon, and of his fon a grand-child leaves,
Like him in faith, in wifdom, and renown;
The grand-child with twelve fons increas'd de-

parts

Such trouble brought, affecting to fubdue

Rational liberty; yet know withal,

Since thy original lapfe, true liberty

Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being:

Reafon in man obfcur'd, or not obey'd,

86

Immediately inordinate defires

And upftart paffions catch the government

From reafon, and to fervitude reduce

Man till then free. Therefore fince he permits

Within himself unworthy pow'rs to reign

91

Over free reafon, God in judgment just Subjects him from without to violent lords; Who oft us undefervedly inthrall

155

His outward freedom: tyranny must be,
Though to the tyrant thereby no excufe.
Yet fometimes nations will decline fo low
From virtue, which is reafon, that no wrong,
But juftice, and fome fatal curfe annex'd,
Deprives them of their outward liberty,
Their inward loft: Witnefs th' irreverent fon
Of him who built the ark, who for the shame
Done to his father, heard this heavy curfe,
Servant of fervants, on his vicious race.
Thus will this latter, as the former world,
Still tend from bad to worfe, till God at luft
Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw
His prefence from among them, and avert
His holy eyes; refolving from thenceforth
To leave them to their own polluted ways;
And one peculiar nation to felect

From all the reft, of whom to be invok'd,

A nation from one faithful man to spring:

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115

Him on this fide Euphrates yet residing, Ered up in idol-worship; O that men (Can't thou believe?) should be fo ftupid grown, While yet the patriarch liv'd, who scap'd the flood,

As to forfake the living God, and fall

To worship their own work in wood and tone

Hail mix'd with fire, muft rend th' Egyptian sky,
And wheel on th' earth, devouring where it rolls;
What it devours no', herb, or fruit, or grain,
A darkfome cloud of locufts fwarming down 185
Muft eat, and on the ground leave nothing green;
Darkness muft overfhadow all his bounds,
Palpable darkness, and blot out three days;
Laft with one midnight stroke all the first-born
Of Egypt muft lie dead. Thus with ten wounds
The river dragon tam'd at length fubmits
To let his fojourners depart, and oft

191

Humbles his ftubborn heart, but ftill as ice More harden'd after thaw, till in his rage

195

Purfuing whom he late difmifs'd, the fea
Swallows him with his hoft, but them lets pafs
As on dry land between two crystal walls,
Aw'd by the rod of Mofes fo to ftand
Divided, till his refcu'd gain their shore:
Such wondrous pow'r God to his faint will lend,
Though prefent in his Angel, who fhall go
Before them in a cloud, and pillar of fire,
By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire,
To guide them in their journey, and remove
Behind them, while th' obdurate king purfues:
All night he will purfue, but his approach
Darknefs defends between till morning watch;
Then through the fiery pillar and the cloud
God looking forth will trouble all his hoft,
And craze their chariot wheels: when by com-

mand

Mofes once more his potent rod extends
Over the fea; the fea his rod obeys;

On their imbattel'd ranks the waves return,
And overwhelm their war: the race elect

206

210

Safe towards Caraan from the fhore advance 215
Through the wild defert, not the readieft way,
Left entring on the Canaanite alarm'd
War terrify them inexpert, and fear

220

Return them back to Egypt, chooling rather
Inglorious life with fervitude; for life
To noble and ignoble is more sweet
Untrain'd in arms, where rafhnefs leads not on.
This alfo fhall they gain by their delay
In the wide wildernefs, there they fhall found
Their government, and their great fenate choofe
Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws or-
dain'd:
226
God from the mount of Sinai, whofe gray top
Shall tremble, he defending, will himfelf
In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets found,
Ordain them laws; part fuch as appertain
To civil justice, part religious rites
Of facrifice, informing them, by types
And fhadows, of that deflin'd Seed to bruife
The Serpent, by what means he shall atchieve
Mankin's deliverance. But the voice of God
To mortal car is dreadful; they befeech
That Mofes might report to them his will,
And terror ceafe; he grants what they befought
Inftructed that to God is no accefs
Without mediator, whofe high office now
Mofes in figure bears, to introduce

230

236

240

One greater, of whofe day he shall foretel,
And all the prophets in their age the times
Of great Meffi'ah fhall fing. Thus laws and rites

241

Eftablish'd, fuch delight hath God in men
Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes
Among them to fet up his tabernacle,
The holy One with mortal men to dwell:
By his prefcript a fanctuary is fram'd
Of cedar, overlaid with gold, therein
An ark, and in the ark his teftimony,
The records of his covenant, over these
A mercy-feat of gold between the wings
Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn
Sev'n lamps as in a zodiac representing
The heav'nly fires; over the tent a cloud
Shall reft by day, a fiery gleam by night,
Save when they journey, and at length they come
Conducted by his Angel to the land
Promis'd to Abraham and his feed: the rest a
Were long to tell, how many battels fought,
How many kings deftroy'd, and kingdoms won,
Or how the fun fhall in mid Heav'n ftand fill
A day entire, and night's due courfe adjourn,
Man's voice commanding, Sun in Gibeon ftand,
And thou moon in the vale of Aialon,
Till Ifrael overcome; fo call the third
From Abraham, fon of Ifaac, and from him
His whole defcent, who thus fhall Canaan win.
Here Adam interpos'd. O fent from Heaven
Inlightner of my darkness, gracious things
Thou haft reveal'd, thofe chiefly which concern
Juft Abraham and his feed: now first I find
Mine eyes true opening, and my heart mu
eas'd,

Erewhile perplex'd with thoughts what would h

29

29

Sin against law to fight that when they fee
Law can difcover fin, but not remove,
Save by thofe fhadowy expiations weak,
The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude
Sonic blood more precious muil be paid for man,
Juil for unjust, that in fuch rightcoufnefs
To them by faith impated, they may find
Juftification towards God, and peace
Of confcience, which the law by ceremonies
Cannot appeafe, nor man t'e moral part
Perform, and not performing cannot live.
So law appears imperfect, and but given
With purpose to refign them in full time
Up to a better covenant, difciplin'd
From fhadowy types to truth, from Alefh to fpiri
From impofition of ftrict laws to free
Acceptance of large grace, from fervile fear 30
To filial, works of law to works of faith.

39

325

330

For ever shall indure; the like fhall fing
All prophecy, that of the royal stock
Of David (fo I name this king) fhall rife
A fon, the woman's feed to thee foretold,
Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust
All nations, and to kings foretold, of kings
The laft, for of his reign fhall be no end.
But firft a long fucceffion must enfue,
And his next fon, for wealth and wisdom fam'd,
The clouded ark of God, till then in tents
Wand'ring, fhall in a glorious temple' infhrine.
Such follow him as fhall be register'd
Part good, part bad, of bad the longer fcroll,
Whofe foul idolatries, and other faults
Heap'd to the popular fum, will so incenfe
God, as to leave them, and expose their land,
Their city', his temple, and his holy ark
With all his facred things, a fcorn and prey
To that proud city, whofe high walls thou faw'ft
Left in confufion, Babylon thence call'd.
There in captivity he lets them dwell

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340

The space of fev'nty years, then brings them back,

345

350

Remembring mercy, and his covenant (worn
To David, ftablish'd as the days of Heaven.
Return'd from Babylon by leave of kings
Their lords, whom God difpos'd, the houfe of God
They first re-edify, and for a while
In mean eftate live moderate, till grown
In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;
But first among the priests diffenfion fprings,
Men who attend the altar, and should most
Endeavor peace: their ftrife pollution brings 355
Upon the temple itfelf: at laft they feife
The fcepter, and regard not David's fons,
Then lofe it to a stranger, that the true
Anointed king Meffiah might be born
Barr'd of his right; yet at his birth a star
Unfeen before in Heav'n proclames him come,
And guides the eastern fages, who inquire
His place, to offer incenfe, myrrh, and gold;
His place of birth a folemn Angel tells
To fimple fhepherds, keeping watch by night;
They gladly thither hafte, and by a quire
Of fquadron'd Angels hear his carol fung.

A virgin is his mother, but his fire

The pow'r of the most High; he shall afcend

360

366

The throne hereditary, and bound his reign 370 With earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens.

He ceas'd, difcerning Adam with fuch joy Surcharg'd, as had like grief been dew'd in tears, Without the vent of words, which thefe he breath'd.

375

O prophet of glad tidirgs, finisher
Of utmon hope! now clear I understand
What oft my teddiest thoughts have fearch'd in
vain;

Why our great expectation fhould be call'd
The feed of Woman: Virgin Mother, hail, 379
High in the love of Heav'n, yet from my loins
Thou fhalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son
Of God moft High; fo God with Man unites.
Necds mutt the Serpent now his capital bruife
Expect with mortal pain, fay where and when
Their fight, what ftroke fhall bruife the victor's
heel.
385

To whom thus Michael. Dream not of their

Satan, whofe fall from Heav'n, a deadlier bruife,
Difabled not to give thee thy death's wound:
Which he, who comes thy Saviour, fhall recure,
Not by deftroying Satan, but his works
In thee and in thy feed; nor can this be,
But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,
Obedience to the law of God, impos'd
On penalty of death, and fuffering death,
The penalty to thy tranfgreffion due,

395

401

405

And due to theirs which out of thine will grow :
So only can high juftice reft appaid.
The law of God exact he fhall fuifil
Both by obedience and by love, though love
Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment
He fhall indure by coming in the flesh
To a reproachful life and curfed death,
Proclaming life to all who fhall believe
In his redemption, and that his obedience
Imputed becomes theirs by faith, his merits 409
To fave them, not their own, though legal works.
For this he fhall live hated, be blafphem'd,
Seis'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemn'd
A fhameful and accurs'd, nail'd to the crofs
By his own nation, flain for bringing life;
But to the crofs he nails thy enemies,
The law that is against thee, and the fins
Of all mankind, with him there crucify'd,
Never to hurt them more who rightly truft
In this his fatisfaction; fo he dies,
But foon revives; death over him no power 420
Shall long ufurp; ere the third dawning light
Return, the stars of morn fhall fee him rife
Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light,
Thy ranfom paid, which man from death redeems,
His death for man, as many as offer'd life
Neglect not, and the benefit embrace

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425

By faith not void of works: this God-like act Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have

dy'd,

435

In fin for ever loft from life; this act
Shall bruife the head of Satan, crush his ftrength,
Defeating fin and death, his two main arms 431
And fix far deeper in his head their stings
Than temp'ral death fhall bruife the victor's heel,
Or theirs whom he redeemns, a death like sleep,
A gentle wafting to immortal life.
Nor after refurrection fhall he stay
Longer on earth than certain times to' appear
To his difciples, men who in his life
Still follow'd him; to them fhall leave in charge
To teach all nations what of him they learn'd 44€
And his falvation, them who fhall believe
Baptizing in the profluent ftream, the fign
Of washing them from guilt of fin to life
Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if fo befall,

450

For death, like that which the Redeemer dy'd. 445
All nations they fhall teach; for from that day
Not only to the fons of Abraham's loins
Salvation fhall be preach'd, but to the fons
Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world;
So in his feed all nations fhall be bleft.
Then to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he fhall afcend
With victory, triumphing through the air
Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains
Through all his realm, and there confounded leave;
Then enter into glory, and refume

456

490

495

To guide them all in truth, and also arm
With fpiritual armour, able to refilt
Satan's affaults, and quench his fiery darts,
What man can do against them, not afraid,
Though to the death, against fuch cruelties
With inward confolations recompens'd,
And oft fupported fo as fhall amaze
Their proudeft perfecutors: for the Spirit
Pour'd first on his Apoftles, whom he fends
To evangelize the nations, then on all
Baptiz'd, fhall them with wondrous gifts indue
To speak all tongues, and do all miracles,
As did their Lord before them. Thus they win
Great numbers of each nation to receive
With joy the tidings brought from Heav'n: at
length

510

316

Their miniitry perform'd, and race well run, 505
Their doctrin and their story written left,
They die; but in their room, as they foreward,
Wolves fhall fucceed for teachers, grievous wolves,
Who all the facred mysteries of Heaven
To their own vile advantages fhall turn
Of lucre and ambition, and the truth
With fuperftitions and traditions taint,
Left only in those written records pure,
Though not but by the Spirit understood.
Then fhall they feck to' avail themfelves of names,
Places, and titles, and with these to join
Secular pow'r; though feigning fill to act
By fpiritual, to themselves appropriating
The Spirit of God, promis'd alike and given
To all believers; and from that pretence,
Spiritual laws by carnal pow'r fhall force
On every confcience; laws which none fhall find
Left them inroll'd, or what the Spirit within
Shall on the heart ingrave. What will they then
But force the Spirit of grace itself, and bind 525
His confort liberty? what, but unbuild
His living temples, built by faith to stand,
Their own faith, not another's? for on earth
Who againit faith and confcience can be heard
Infallible? yet many will prefume :
Whence heavy perfecution fhall arife
On all who in the worship perfevere

Of spirit and truth; the reft, far greater part,
Will deem in outward rites and specious forms
Religion fatisfied; truth fhall retire

520

530

535

Beftuck with fland'rous darts, and works of faith
Rarely be found: fo fhall the world go on,
To good malignant, to bad men benign,

Under her own weight groaning, till the day
Appear of refpiration to the juít,

480

Of him fo lately promis'd to thy aid

And vengeance to the wicked, at return

His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd,
The enemies of truth? who then fhall guide
His people, who defend? will they not deal
Worle with his followers than with him they
dualt?

Be fure they will, faid th' Angel; but from
Heaven

485

He to his own a Comforter will fend,
The promise of the Father, who fhall dwell
His Spirit within them, and the law of faith
Working through love, upon their hearts fhall
write,

540