Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes
Among them to fet up his tabernacle,
The holy One with mortal men to dwell:
By his prescript a fanctuary is fram'd
Of cedar, overlaid with gold, therein
An ark, and in the ark his teftimony,
The records of his covenant; over these
A mercy-feat of gold between the wings
Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn
Sev'n lamps,as in a zodiac representing
The heav'nly fires; over the tent a cloud
Shall reft by day, a fiery gleam by night,
Save when they journey; and at length they come,
Conducted by his Angel,to the land
Promis'd to Abraham and his feed: the rest
Were long to tell, how many battels fought,
How many kings destroy'd, and kingdoms won;
Or how the fun shall,in mid Heav'n,stand still
A day entire, and night's due course adjourn,
Man's voice commanding, Sun in Gibeon ftand, 265
And thou moon in the vale of Aialon,
Till Ifrael overcome; fo call the third
From Abraham, fon of Ifaac, and from him
His whole defcent, who thus fhall Canaan win.
Here Adam interpos'd. O fent from Heaven, 270
Inlightner of my darkness, gracious things
Thou haft reveal'd, thofe chiefly which concern
Just Abraham and his feed: now first I find
276
Mine eyes true opening, and my heart much eas'd,
Erewhile perplex'd with thoughts what would become
Of me and all mankind; but now I fee
His day, in whom all nations fhall be bleft;
Favor unmerited by me, who fought
Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means.
This yet I apprehend not, why to those
Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth
So many and so various laws are given;
So many laws argue fo many fins
Among them; how can God with such refide?
To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that fin 285 Will reign among them, as of thee begot; And therefore was law giv'n them to evince Their natural pravity, by stirring up
Sin against law to fight: that when they see
Law can discover sin, but not remove,
Save by those shadowy expiations weak,
The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude
Some blood more precious must be paid for man;
Just for unjust, that in such righteousness,
To them by faith imputed, they may find
Juftification towards God, and peace
Of confcience, which the law by ceremonies
Cannot appease, nor man the moral part
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
From shadowy types to truth, from flesh to spirit,
From impofition of ftrict laws,to free
Acceptance of large grace, from servile fear 305
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 Jefus 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,315
Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when fins
National interrupt their public peace,
Provoking God to raise them enemies;
From whom as oft he faves them, penitent,
By judges firft, 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 fhall indure; the like shall fing
All prophecy, that of the royal stock
Of David (so I name this king) shall rise
A Son, the Woman's feed,to thee foretold,
Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust
All nations, and to kings foretold, of kings
330
The laft, for of his reign shall be no end.
But first a long succession must ensue,
And his next fon, for wealth and wisdom fam'd,
The clouded ark of God, till then in tents
Wand'ring, shall in a glorious temple infhrine.
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 fum, will fo incenfe
God, as to leave them, and expose their land,
Their city, his temple, and his holy ark,
With all his facred things, a fcorn 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 sev'nty years, then brings them back,
Remembring mercy, and his covenant fworn 346
To David, stablish'd as the days of Heaven.
Return'd from Babylon by leave of kings
Their lords, whom God difpos'd, the house of God
They first re-edify, and for a while
350
In mean estate live moderate, till grown
In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;
But first among the priests diffenfion springs,
Men who attend the altar, and should most
Endevor peace: their ftrife pollution brings
Upon the temple itfelf: at last they feife
The scepter, and regard not David's fons,
Fff
Then lose it to a stranger, that the true
Anointed king,Meffiah,might be born
Barr'd of his right; yet at his birth a står,
Unseen before in Heav'n,proclames him come,
And guides the eastern fages, who inquire
His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold;
His place of birth a folemn Angel tells
To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; 365
They gladly thither hafte, and by a quire
Of squadron'd Angels hear his carol fung.
A virgin is his mother, but his fire
The pow'r of the most High; he shall ascend
The throne hereditary, and bound his reign 370
With earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens.
He ceas'd, difcerning 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
375
Of utmost hope! now clear I understand,
What oft my fteddieft thoughts have search'd in vain,
Why our great expectation should be call'd
The feed of Woman: Virgin Mother, hail,
High in the love of Heav'n, yet from
loins 380
my
Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son
Of God most High; fo God with Man unites.
Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise
Expect with mortal pain: fay where,and when 384
Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's heel.
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