Than that which by creation first brought forth
Light out of darknefs! full of doubt I stand,
Whether I should repent me now of fin
By me done and occafion'd, or rejoice
Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring,
To God more glory, more good-will to men
From God, and over wrath grace fhall abound.
But fay, if our Deliverer up to Heaven
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 deal
Worfe with his followers than with him they dealt?
Be fure they will, faid th' Angel; but from Heaven
He to his own à Comforter will fend,
The promise of the Father, who shall dwell
His Spirit within them, and the law of faith
Working through love, upon their hearts shall write,
To guide them in all truth, and also arm
With spiritual armour, able to resist
Satan's affaults, and quench his fiery darts,
What man can do against them, not afraid,
Though to the death, against such cruelties
With inward confolations recompens'd,
And oft fupported fo as fhall amaze
Their proudeït perfecutors: for the Spirit
Pour'd firft on his Apostles, 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 ministry perform'd, and race well run,
Their doctrin and their story written left,
They die; but in their room, as they forewarn,
Wolves fhall fucceed for teachers, grievous wolves,
Who all the facred myfteries 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 shall they feek to' avail themselves of names, 515
Places, and titles, and with these to join
Secular pow'r; though feigning ftill 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 shall force
On every confcience; laws which none shall find
Left them inroll'd, or what the Spi'rit within
Shall on the heart ingrave. What will they then
But force the Spi'rit of grace itself, and bind
His confort liberty? what, but unbuild
His living temples, built by faith to stand,
Their own faith, not another's? for on earth
Who against faith and confcience can be heard
Infallible? yet many will prefume:
Whence heavy perfecution hall arife
Of spirit and truth; the reft, far greater part,
Will deem in outward rites and fpecious 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 respiration to the just,
And vengeance to the wicked, at return
Of him fo lately promis'd to thy aid
The Woman's Seed, obfcurely then foretold,
Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord,
Laft in the clouds from Heav'n to be reveal'd
In glory of the Father, to diffolve
Satan with his perverted world, then raise
From the conflagrant mafs, purg'd and refin'd,
New Heav'ns, new Earth, ages of endless date
Founded in righteousness and peace and love,
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 fix'd? beyond is all abyss,
Eternity, whofe end no eye can reach.
Greatly inftructed I fhall hence depart,
Greatly in peace of thought, and have
Of knowledge, what this veffel can contain;
Beyond which was my folly to afpire.
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only 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 fmall
Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wife
By fimply meek; that fuffering for truth's fake
Is fortitude to highest victory,
And to the faithful death the gate of life;
Taught this by his example whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever bleft.
To whom thus alfo th' Angel laft reply'd.
This having learn'd, thou haft attain'd the sum
Of wisdom; hope no high'er, though all the stars
Thou knew'ft by name, and all th' ethereal pow'rs,
All fecrets of the deep, all Nature's works,
Or works of God in Heav'n, air, earth, or sea,
And all the riches of this world enjoy'dst,
And all the rule, one empire; only add
Deeds to thy knowledge anfwerable, add faith,
Add virtue, patience, temperance, add love,
By name to come call'd charity, the foul
Of all the reft: then wilt thou not be loath
To leave this Paradise, but shalt poffefs
A Paradife within thee, happier far.
Let us defcend now therefore from this top
Of speculation; for the hour precise
Exacts our parting hence; and fee the guards,
By me incamp'd on yonder hill, expect
Their motion, at whose front a flaming sword,
In fignal of remove, waves fiercely round;
We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve;
Her alfo I with gentle dreams have calm'd
Portending good, and all her fpirits compos'd
To meek fubmiffion: thou at season fit
Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard,
Chiefly what may concern her faith to know,
The great deliverance by her feed to come
(For by the Woman's feed) on all mankind:
That ye may live, which will be many days,
Both in one faith unanimous, though fad
With caufe for evils paft, yet much more chear'd
With meditation on the happy end.
He ended, and they both descend the hill; Defcended, Adam to the bow'r where Eve Lay fleeping ran before, but found her wak'd; And thus with words not fad fhe him receiv'd. Whence thou return'ft, and whither went'ft, I know; For God is alfo' in fleep, and dreams advise, Which he hath fent propitious, fome great good Prefaging, fince with forrow' and heart's distress Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on, In me is no delay, with thee to go, Is to stay here; without thee here to stay, Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou, Who for my wilful crime art banish'd hence. This further confolation yet secure
I carry hence; though all by me is loft,
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