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540

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 feed, obfcurely then foretold,
Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord,
Laft in the Clouds from Heav'n to be reveal'd 545
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
To bring forth fruits, Joy and eternal Bliss.

550

He ended; and thus Adam laft 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,

Eternity, whofe end no eye can reach.

Greatly inftructed I fhall hence depart,

Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill
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 small

555

560

565

Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak.
Subverting worldly ftrong, and worldly wife
By fimply meek; that fuffering for Truths 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.

570

To whom thus also th' Angel last reply'd: This having learnt, thou haft attain'd the fuma 175 Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the Stars Thou knewft by name, and all th' ethereal Powers, All fecrets of the deep, all Natures works, Or works of God in Heav'n, Aire, Earth, or Sea, And all the riches of this World enjoy'dft, And all the rule, one Empire; only add Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith; Add Virtue, Patience, Temperance, add Love, By name to come call'd Charity, the foul

580

Of all the reft: then wilt thou not be loath. 585 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 precife

Exacts our parting hence; and fee the Guards, 190
By me encampt on yonder Hill, expect
Their motion, at whofe 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 spirits compos'd
To meek fubraiffion: thou at season fit

Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard,
Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know,

595

600

he great deliverance by her Seed to come or by the Woman's Seed) on all Mankind. nat ye may live, which will be many days, oth in one Faith unanimous though fad,' ith caufe for evils paft, yet much more cheer'd ith meditation on the happy end.

605

611

He ended, and they both defcend the Hill; efcended, Adam to the Bowre where Eve -ay fleeping ran before, but found her wak't; nd thus with words not fad the him receiv'd. Whence thou return'ft, and whither went'ft, I know; "or 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 ftay here; without thee here to stay, Is to go hence unwillingly; thou to me Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou, Who for my woful crime att banish'd hence. This further confolation yet fecure

I

carry hence; though all by me is loft, Such favour I unworthy am vouchsaft,

By me the Promis'd Seed shall all restore.

615

620

So fpake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard
Well pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh 625
Th'Archangel ftood, and from the other Hili

To their fixt Station, all in bright array
The Cherubim defcended; on the ground
Gliding metéoreous, as Ev'ning Mift

630

638

Ris'n from a River o'er the marish glides,
And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel
Homeward returning. High in front advanc'd
The brandish'd Sword of God before them blaz'd.
Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapours as the Libyan Air adust,
Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat
In either hand the haft'ning Angel caught
Our lingring Parents, and to th' Eastern Gate
Led them direct, and down the Cliff as faft
To the subjected Plain; then disappear'd.
They looking back, all th'Eastern side beheld
Of Paradife, fo late their happy feat,
Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate

640

With dreadful Faces throng'd and fiery Arms: 644 Some natural tears they drop'd, but wip'd them foon j The World was all before them, where to chufe Their place of reft, and Providence their guide: They hand in hand with wandring steps and flow, Through Eden took their solitary way.

The END.

INDEX.

A

A

Page Line

Aron and Mofes, their Mif-p. 362.1. 170

fion to Egypt

Abdiel (a Seraph) opposes 2

Satan promoting the
Angels Revolt, &c.

Reply to his Anfwer

His Fidelity, &c. Celebrated

Retreat from Satan's Party

Soliloquy on View of him at their

Head

Speech to him thereon

Reply to his Anfwer

Encounters him in the Battel

Vanquishes Ariel, Arioc and
miel, (fallen Angels)

Abel and Cain, their Story related
Abraham's and the Patriarchs

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Ra-2

p. 178. 1. 369

P. 339. 1.429

All Nations his Sons by Faith

Acheron, a River of Hell
Adam and Eve defcribed Generally

P. 360. 1. 113

P. 371. 1. 446

P.SI. 1.570

Particularly

p. 106. 1. 288

1. 295

P. 107. 1. 312

Their State of Innocence

P. 113. 1.492

Night Oraison

P. 121. 1.738
P. 140. 1. 21
P. 143. 1.303
P. 238. 1. SIO

Vide Innocence.

P. 124. 1. 720

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