And out of Heav'n the Sov'raign voice I heard,
This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas'd.
His Mother then is mortal, but his Sire,
He who obtains the Monarchy of Heav'n,
And what will he not do to advance his Son?
His first-begot we know, and fore have felt,
When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; 90
Who this is we must learn, for man he seems
In all his lineaments, though in his face
The glimpses of his Fathers glory shine.
Ye see our danger on the utmost edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate,
But must with something fudden be oppos'd,
Not force, but well couch't fraud, well woven fnares,
E're in the head of Nations he
Their King, their Leader, and Supream on Earth. I, when no other durft, fole undertook
The dismal expedition to find out
And ruine Adam, and the exploit perform'd
Successfully; a calmer voyage now
Will waft me; and the way
found profperous once
Induces beft to hope of like fuccefs.
He ended, and his words impreflion left
Of much amazement to th' infernal Crew,
Distracted and furpriz'd with deep dismay
At these fad tidings; but no time was then
For long indulgence to their fears or grief:
Unanimous they all commit the care
And management of this main enterprize
To him their great Dictator, whose attempt
At first against mankind fo well had thriv'd
In Adam's overthrow, and led thir march
From Hell's deep-vaulted Den to dwell in light,
Regents and Potentates, and Kings, yea gods
Of many a pleasant Realm and Province wide.
So to the Coast of Jordan he directs
His easie steps; girded with snaky wiles,
Where he might likelieft find this new-declar'd,
This man of men, attefted Son of God,
Temptation and all guile on him to try;
So to fubvert whom he suspected rais'd
To end his Raign on Earth fo long enjoy'd :
But contrary unweeting he fulfill'd
The purpos'd Counsel pre-ordain'd and fixt
Of the most High, who in full frequence bright
Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake.
Gabriel this day by proof thou shalt behold, 130
Thou and all Angels converfant on Earth
With man or mens affairs, how I begin
To verifie that folemn meffage late,
On which I fent thee to the Virgin pure
In Galilee, that she should bear a Son
Great in Renown, and call'd the Son of God;
Then toldft her doubting how these things could be
To her a Virgin, that on her should come
The Holy Ghost, and the power of the highest
O're-shadow her: this man born and now up-grown,
To shew him worthy of his birth divine
And high prediction, henceforth I expose
To Satan; let him tempt and now affay
His utmost subtilty, because he boasts
And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng
Of his Apoftafie; he might have learnt
Lefs over-weening, fince he fail'd in Job,
And evil turn to good; more wonderful
Then that which by creation first brought forth
Light out of darkness! full of doubt I stand,
Whether I should repent me now of fin
By mee done and occafiond, or rejoyce [fpring,
Much more, that much more good thereof shall
To God more glory, more good will to Men
From God, and over wrauth grace shall abound.
But fay, if our deliverer up to Heav'n
Muft reafcend, what will betide the few
His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd,
The enemies of truth; who then shall guide
His people, who defend? will they not deale
Wors with his followers then with him they dealt?
Be sure they will, faid th' Angel; but from Heav'n
Hee to his own a Comforter will fend,
The promise of the Father, who shall dwell
His Spirit within them, and the Law of Faith
Working through love, upon thir hearts fhall write,
To guide them in all truth, and also arme
With spiritual Armour, able to resist
Satans affaults, and quench his fierie darts,
What Man can do against them, not affraid,
Though to the death, against such cruelties
With inward confolations recompenc't,
And oft fupported fo as fhall amaze
Thir proudest perfecuters: for the Spirit
Powrd first on his Apostles, whom he sends
To evangelize the Nations, then on all
Baptiz'd, shall them with wondrous gifts endue
To speak all Tongues, and do all Miracles,
As did thir Lord before them. Thus they win
Great numbers of each Nation to receave
With joy the tidings brought from Heav'n: at length
Thir Ministry perform'd, and race well run,
Thir doctrine and thir story written left,
They die; but in thir room, as they forewarne,
Wolves shall fucceed for teachers, grievous Wolves,
Who all the facred mysteries of Heav'n
To thir own vile advantages fhall turne
Of lucre and ambition, and the truth
With fuperftitions and traditions taint,
Left onely in those written Records pure,
Though not but by the Spirit understood.
Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,
Places and titles, and with these to joine
Secular power, though feigning still to act
By spiritual, to themselves appropriating
The Spirit of God, promisd alike and giv'n
To all Beleevers; and from that pretense,
Spiritual Lawes by carnal power fhall force
On every confcience; Laws which none shall finde
Left them inrould, or what the Spirit within
Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then
But force the Spirit of Grace it self, and binde
His confort Libertie; what, but unbuild
His living Temples, built by Faith to ftand,
Thir own Faith not anothers: for on Earth
Who against Faith and Conscience can be heard
Infallible? yet many will prefume:
Whence heavie perfecution shall arise
On all who in the worship perfevere
Of Spirit and Truth; the reft, farr greater part, Will deem in outward Rites and specious formes
Religion fatisfi'd; Truth fhall retire
Beftuck with flandrous darts, and works of Faith
Rarely be found: fo fhall the World goe on,
To good malignant, to bad men benigne,
Under her own waight groaning, till the day
Appeer of refpiration to the just,
And vengeance to the wicked, at return
Of him fo lately promifs'd to thy aid,
The Womans feed, obfcurely then foretold,
Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord,
Laft in the Clouds from Heav'n to be reveald
In glory of the Father, to diffolve
Satan with his perverted World, then raise
From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd,
New Heav'ns, new Earth, Ages of endless date
Founded in righteousness and peace and love, 550
To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Blifs.
He ended; and thus Adam last reply'd.
How foon hath thy prediction, Seer bleft,
Measur'd this tranfient World, the Race of time,
Till time stand fixt: beyond is all abyss,
Eternitie, whose end no eye can reach.
Greatly instructed I shall hence depart,
Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill
Of knowledge, what this veffel can containe;
Beyond which was my folly to aspire.
Henceforth I learne, that to obey is best,
And love with feare the onely God, to walk
As in his prefence, ever to obferve
His providence, and on him fole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good
Still overcoming evil, and by small
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