The Angel Michael continues from the flood to relate what fhall fucceed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain who that Seed of the Woman fhall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the fall; his incarnation, death, refurrec tion, and afcenfion; the ftate of the church till his fecond coming. Adam greatly fatisfied and re-comforted by these relations and promifes defcends the hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had fept, but with gentle dreams compos'd to quietness of mind and fubmiffion. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradife, the fiery sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their stations to guard the place.
S one who in his journey bates at noon, Though bent on fpeed; fo here th' Arch- Angel paus'd
Betwixt the world deftroy'd and world reftor'd, If Adam ought perhaps might interpofe; Then with transition fweet new fpeech refumes. 5 Thus thou haft feen one world begin and end; And man as from a second stock proceed. Much thou haft yet to fee, but I perceive 'Thy mortal fight to fail; objects divine Muft needs impair and weary human sense: Henceforth what is to come I will relate, Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. This fecond fource of men, while yet but few, And while the dread of judgment past remains Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, With fome regard to what is juft and right Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace, Lab'ring the foil, and reaping plenteous crop, Corn, wine, and oil; and from the herd or flock, Oft facrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, With large wine-offerings pour'd, and facred feaft,
And get themselves a name, left far difpers'd 45 In foreign lands their memory be loft, Regardless whether good or evil fame. But God, who oft defcends to visit men Unfeen, and through their habitations walks To mark their doings, them beholding foon, 50 Comes down to fee their city, ere the tower Obftruct Heav'n-tow'rs, and in derifion fets 25 Upon their tongues a various fpi'rit to rafe Quite out their native language, and instead To fow a jangling noise of words unknown: 55 Forthwith a hideous gabble rifes loud
Shall spend their days in joy unblam'd, and dwell Long time in peace by families and tribes Under paternal rule: till one shall rife Of proud ambitious heart, who not content With fair equality, fraternal ftate, Will arrogate dominions undeferv'd Over his brethren, and quite difpoffefs
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?
To whom thus Michael. Juftly thou abhorr'st That fon, who on the quiet itate of men
loft, which always with right reafon dwells
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-
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-
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,
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
Over free reafon, God in judgment just Subjects him from without to violent lords; Who oft us undefervedly inthrall
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:
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
Humbles his ftubborn heart, but ftill as ice More harden'd after thaw, till in his rage
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-
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
The space of fev'nty years, then brings them back,
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
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.
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,
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
By faith not void of works: this God-like act Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have
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,
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
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
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
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,
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
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,
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