Die he or Justice muft; unless for him 230 Say, heav'nly Pow'rs, where shall we find fuch love? Which of ye will be mortal to redeem Man's mortal crime: and just, th' unjust to save? Dwells in all heaven charity fo dear? 220 216 He afk'd, but all the heav'nly choir ftocd mute, And filence was in heav'n: on man's behalf Patron, or interceffor, none appear'd; Much less that durft upon his own head draw The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. And now, without redemption all mankind Must have been loft, adjudg'd to Death and hell By doom severe, had not the Son of God (In whom the fullness dwells of love divine,) 225 His deareft mediation thus renew'd. Father! thy word is past, Man shall find grace: And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, The speedieft of thy winged meffengers, To vifit all thy creatures, and to all Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unfought? 230 (Indebted, and undone !) hath none to bring. 235 Behold Me then! Me for him, life for life I offer, on Me let thine anger fall; Account Me Man: I for his fake will leave Thy bosom, and this glory next to Thee Freely put off, and for him laftly die 240 Well pleas'd, on Me let Death wreak all his rage. For ever with corruption there to dwell: 245 250 My vanquisher, spoil'd of his vaunted spoil : I through the ample air in triumph high Shall lead hell captive, maugre hell! and show 255 Death laft, and with his carcafs glut the grave: Shall enter heav'n long absent, and return, His words here ended, but His meek afpect 260 265 Glad to be offer'd, he attends the will 270 All heav'n, what this might mean, and whither tend Wond'ring; but soon th' Almighty thus reply'd: O Thou in heav'n and earth the only peace Found out for mankind under wrath! O Thou 275 My fole complacence! well Thou know'ft how dear To Me are all My works, nor Man the leaft, Though laft created; that for him I spare Thee from My bofom, and right hand, to fave (By lofing Thee a-while) the whole race loft. Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeem, Their nature alfo to Thy nature join ; 280 And be Thy felf Man among men on earth, 'As in him perish all men, fo in Thee, 285 As from a fecond root, fhall be restor'd 295 So dearly to redeem what hellish hate So easily destroy'd, and ftill deftroys 300 In those who, when they may, accept not grace. Nor fhalt Thou by descending to affume Man's nature, leffen or degrade Thine own. God-like fruition) quitted all, to save 306 A world from utter lofs, and haft been found 310 Far more than great, or high; because in Thee With Thee Thy manhood also to this throne: I give Thee, reign for ever, and affume Thy merits under Thee, as head supreme 319 Thrones, Princedoms, Pow'rs, Dominions I reduce: 325 Then all thy faints affembled, thou shalt judge 330 Bad men, and Angels; they arraign'd shall sink Beneath Thy fentence; hell (her numbers full) Thenceforth fhall be for ever fhut. Mean-while The world shall burn, and from her afhes fpring Sce golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, Th'eternal regions. Lowly reverent 336 340 345 Tow'rds either throne they bow, and to the ground Their crowns, inwove with amarant, and gold, In Paradife faft by the Tree of Life 351 Began to bloom; but foon for man's offense 355 To heav'n remov'd, where first it grew, there grows, And flow'rs aloft fhading the fount of life; |