In fin for ever loft from life: this act
Shall bruife the head of SAT AN, crush his ftrength,
Defeating Sin, and Death, his two main arms:
And fix far deeper in his head their ftings,
Than temporal death fhall bruise the victor's heel,
Or theirs whom he redeems; a death-like fleep!
A gentle wafting to immortal life!
Nor after refurrection fhall he ftay
Longer on earth, than certain times t' 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,
And his falvation; them who shall 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 befal,
For death, like that which the Redeemer dy'd.
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: where-ever through the world : So, in his feed all nations fhall be blefs'd.
Then to the heav'n of heav'ns fhall he afcend
With victory, triumphing through the air
Over his foes and thine; there fhall furprife
The ferpent, prince of air, and drag in chains
Thro' all his realm, and there confounded live:
Then enter into glory, and resume
His feat at GOD's right hand, exalted high
Above all names in heav'n: and thence fhall come,
When the world's diffolution fhall be ripe,
With glory, and pow'r, to judge both quick and dead
To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward
His faithful, and receive them into blifs:
Whether in heav'n, or earth: for then, the earth
Shall all be Paradife, far happier place
Than this of EDEN, and far happier days!
So fpake th' Arch Angel MICHAEL; then paus'd, As at the world's great period and our fire, Replete with joy, and wonder, thus reply'd.
O GOODNESS infinite! goodness immense!
That all this good of evil fhall produce,
And evil turn to good! more wonderful
Than that which by creation firft brought forth
Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand,
Whether I should repent me now of fin,
By me done, and occafion'd; or rejoice
From GOD, and over wrath grace fhall abound.
But fay, if our deliverer up to heav'n
Muft re-afcend, what will betide the few
His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd,
The enemies of truth? Who then fhall guide
His people who defend? will they not deal
Worfe with his followers, than with him they dealt?
Much more, that much more good thereof fhall fpring: To GOD more glory, more good-will to men
BE fure they will, faid th' angel; but from heav'n 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 thro' love, upon their hearts fhall write, To guide them in all truth; and also arm With fpiritual armour, able to refift 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 proudest perfecutors; for, the SPIRIT
Pour'd first on his apostles, whom he sends
T'evangelize the nations; then, on all
Baptiz'd, fhall them with wond'rous gifts indue, 500
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 miniftry perform'd, and race well run,
Their doctrine, and their story written left,
They die.
But in their room, as they fore-warn,
Wolves fhall fucceed for teachers, grievous wolves!
Who all the facred myfteries of heav'n
To their own vile advantages shall 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 seek t' avail themselves of names,
Places, and titles; and with thefe to join
Secular pow'r; though feigning ftill to act
By fpiritual to themfelves appropriating
The SPIRIT of GOD, promis'd alike, and giv❜n
To all believers: and, from that pretenfe,
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 engrave. What will they then
But force the SPIRIT of grace it felf, 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 against faith, and confcience, can be heard
Infallible? Yet, many will prefume:
-Whence heavy perfecution fhall arise
On all, who in the worship perfevere
Of fpirit, and truth: the reft, far greater part,
Will deem in outward rites, and fpecious forms,
Religion fatisfy'd truth fhall retire
Bestuck with fland'rous darts; and works of faith
Rarely be found. So 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 juft,
And vengeance to the wicked: at return
Of HIM fo lately promis'd to thy aid,
The woman's feed; 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 righteoufnefs, and peace, and love; 550
To bring forth fruits, joy, and eternal blifs.
HE ended; and thus ADAM laft reply'd.
How foon hath thy prediction, feer bleft!
Meafur'd this tranfient world the race of time,
'Till time stand fix'd? Beyond is all abyfs,
Eternity, whofe end no eyes can reach !
Greatly inftructed I fhall hence depart;
Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill
Of knowledge, what this vetfel can contain:
Beyond which was my folly to aspire!
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 small
Accomplishing great things; by things deem'd weak
Subverting worldly ftrong; 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 blest!
To whom thus alfo th' angel laft reply'd: This having learn'd, thou haft attain'd the fum Of wisdom; hope no higher; 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 fea;
And all the riches of this world enjoy'dft;
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 loth
To leave this Paradife, but fhalt poffefs
A Paradife within thee, happier far!
Let us defcend now therefore from this top
Of fpeculation for the hour precise
Exacts our parting hence: and fee! the guards, 590
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 ftay: 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;
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