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LINE 278. Though last created; that for him I spare.
The word that must here be understood in the
sense of because. Thou knowest how dear he is to me,
because to save him I spare thee from my bosom.

LINE 290.

Imputed

thy merit

Faith in the righteousness of the Son of man, as
the instrument and means of our justification in the
sight of God, is itself considered as righteousness, and
for the sake of that faith it is, that creatures, un-
righteous in themselves, are yet accepted. See Corin-
thians 1. 30.

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God
is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, sanctifica-
tion, and redemption."

LINE 305. Because thou hast, &c.

Through this whole period ending at line 322, the
poet builds on that passage of Psalms, 45, 6, 7.

"A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy
kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity
therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with
the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

LINE 341. God shall be all in all.

It may not be amiss at the close of these admirable
speeches, as admirable for their sound divinity, as for
the perspicuity with which it is expressed, to allow our-

selves a moment's pause for the purpose of taking a short retrospect of the doctrines contained in them.

Man in the beginning, is placed in a probationary state, and made the arbiter of his own destiny. By his own fault he forfeits happiness both for himself and for his descendants. But mercy interposes for his restoration. That mercy is represented as perfectly free, as vouchsafed to the most unworthy; to creatures so entirely dead in sin, as to be destitute even of a sense of their need of it, and consequently too stupid ever to ask it. They are also as poor as they are unfeeling, and were it possible that they could affect themselves with a just sense and apprehension of their lapsed condition, have no compensation to offer to their offended Maker, nothing, with which they can satisfy the demands of his justice, in short, no atonement. In this ruinous state of their affairs, and when all hope of reconciliation seems lost for ever, the Son of God voluntarily undertakes for them undertakes to become the Son of Man also, and to suffer in Man's stead the penalty annexed for his transgression. In consequence of this self-substitution Christ becomes the fœderal head of his church, and the sole author of salvation to his people. As Adam's sin was imputed to his posterity, so the faultless obedience. of the second Adam is imputed to all, who, in the great concern of justification, shall renounce their own obedience as imperfect, and therefore incompetent.

:

The sentence is thus reversed as to all believers,

"Death is swallowed up in Victory"-the Saviour presents the redeemed before the throne of the eternal Father, in whose countenance no longer any symptom of displeasure appears against them, but their joy and peace are thenceforth perfect. The general resurrection takes place, the saints are made assessors with Christ in the judgment both of men and angels, the new heaven and earth, the destined habitation of the just, succeed; the Son of God, his whole undertaking accomplished, surrenders the kingdom to his Father, and God becomes All in All.

It is easy to see, that among these doctrines there are some, which in modern times have been charged with novelty; but, how new they are, Milton is a witness.

END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

W. Mason, Printer, Chichester.

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