Perform; and, not performing, cannot live. So law appears imperfect; and but given With purpose to resign them, in full time, Up to a better covenant, disciplin'd
Fron shadowy types to truth; from flesh to spirit ; From imposition of strict laws to free Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear To filial; works of law to works of faith, And therefore shall not Moses, though of God Highly belov'd, being but the minister
Of law, his people into Canaan lead;
But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, His name and office bearing, who shall quell The adversary-serpent, and bring back
Through the world's wilderness long-wander'd man Safe to eternal paradise of rest.
« Mean-while they, in their earthly Canaan plac'd, Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins National interrupt their public peace,
Provoking God to raise them enemies; From whom as oft he saves them penitent By judges first, then under kings; of whom The second, both for piety renown'd And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive Irrevocable, that his regal throne For ever shall endure; the like shall sing All prophecy, that of the royal stock
Of David (so I name this king) shall rise A son, the Woman's Seed to thee foretold, Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings The last; for of his reign shall be no end.
«< But first, a long succession must ensue ; And his next son, for wealth and wisdom fam'd, The clouded ark of God, till then in tents Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. Such follow him, as shall be register'd
Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll; Whose foul idolatries, and other faults Heap'd to the popular sum, will so incense God, as to leave them, and expose their land, Their city, his temple, and his holy ark, With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey To that proud city, whose high walls thou saw'st Left in confusion; Babylon thence call'd.
There in captivity he lets them dwell
The space of seventy years; then brings them back, Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn To David, stablish'd as the days of heaven.
« Returned from Babylon by leave ol kings Their lords, whom God dispos'd, the house of God They first re-edify; and for a while
In mean estate live moderate; till, grown In wealth and multitude, factious they grow. << But first among the priests dissention springs; Men who attend the altar, and should most Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings Upon the temple itself: at last they seize The sceptre, and regard not David's sons; Then lose it to a stranger, that the true Anointed king Messiah might be born Barr'd of his right: yet at his birth a star, Unseen before in heaven, proclaims him come; And guides the eastern sages, who inquire
His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold : His place of birth a solemn angel tells To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; They gladly thither haste, and by a quire Of squadron'd angels hear his carol sung. « A virgin in his mother, but his sire
The power of the Most High; he shall ascend The throne hereditary, and bound his reign With earth's wide bounds, his glory with the heavens. He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy Surcharg'd, as had like grief been dew'd in tears, Without the vent of words; which these he breath'd. « O prophet of glad tidings, finisher
Of utmost hope! now clear I understand
What oft my steadiest thoughts have search'd in vain ; Why our great expectation should be call'd
The seed of woman: virgin-mother, hail,
High in the love of heaven; yet from my loins Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son Of God Most High; so God with man unites. Needs must the serpent now his capital bruise Expect with mortal pain: say where and when
Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's heel? » To whom thus Michael : « Dream not of their fight, As of a duel, or the local wounds
Of head or heel: not therefore joins the Son Manhood to Godhead, with more strength to foil Thy enemy; nor so is overcome
Satan, whose fall from heaven, a deadlier bruise, Disabled not to give thee thy death's wound : Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, Not by destroying Satan, but his works
In thee, and in thy seed; 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 suffering death; The penalty to thy transgression due,
And due to theirs which out of thine will grow ; So only can high Justice rest appaid.
The law of God exact he shall fulfil
Both by obedience and by love, though love Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment
He shall endure, by coming in the flesh To a reproachful life, and cursed death; Proclaiming life to all who shall believe In his redemption; and that his obedience, Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits To save them, not their own (though legal) works. For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd, Seiz'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemn'd, A shameful and accurs'd; nail'd to the cross By his own nation; slain for bringing life : But to the cross he nails thy enemies, The law that is against thee, and the sins Of all mankind, with him there crucified, Never to hurt them more who rightly trust In this his satisfaction.
But soon revives; death over him no power Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, Thy ransom 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 died, In sin for ever lost from life; this act
Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, Defeating sin and death, his two main arms; And fix far deeper in his head stings,
Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep A gentle wafting to immortal life. Nor after resurrection shall he stay
Longer on earth, than certain times to appear To his disciples, men who in his life
Still follow'd him; to them shall leave in charge To teach all nations what of him they learn'd And his salvation; them who shall believe Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign Of washing them from guilt of sin to life Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall, For death, like that which the Redeemer died. All nations they shall teach; for, from that day, Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins Salvation shall be preach'd, but to the sons Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world; So in his seed all nations shall be blest.
Then to the heaven of heavens he shall ascend
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 resume
His seat at God's right hand, exalted high
« PreviousContinue » |