God fitting on his throne fees Satan flying towards this world, then newly created; fhows him to the Son, who fat at his right hand; foretels the fuccefs of Satan in perverting mankind; clears his own juftice and wisdom from all imputation, having created Man free and able enough to have withstood his tempter; yet declares his purpose of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him feduced. The Son of God renders praises to his Father for the manifeftation of his gracious purpofe towards Man; but God again declares, that grace cannot be extended towards Man without the fatiffaction of divine justice; Man hath offended the majefty of God by afpiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his progeny devoted to death muft die, unlefs fome one can be found fufficient to answer for his offenfe, and undergo his punishment. The Son of God freely offers himself a ranfome for Man: the Father acccpts him, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above all names in Heaven and Earth; commands all the Angels to adore him; they obey, and hymning to their harps in full quire, celebrate the Father and the Son. Mean while Satan alights upon the bare convex of this world's outermoft orb; where wand'ring he first finds a place, fince call'd the Limbo of Vanity; what perfons and things fly up thither; thence comes to the gate of Heaven, defcrib'd afcending by ftairs, and the waters above the firmament that flow about it: His paffage thence to the orb of the fun; he finds there Uriel the regent of that orb, but firft changes himself into the fhape of a meaner Angel; and pretending a zealous defire to behold the new creation, and Man whom God had plac'd here, inquires of him the place of his habita、 tion, and is directed; alights first on mount Niphates. [73] PARADISE H LOST. воок III. AIL holy Light, off-spring of Heav'n first-born, May I exprefs thee' unblam'd? fince God is light, Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee, Efcap'd the Stygian pool, though long detain'd I fung of Chaos and eternal Night, 5 20 Revifit ft Revifit'ft not thefe eyes, that roll in vain 25 3.0 That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow, Those other two equal'd with me in fate, Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year 35 49 45 Of nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd, 50 Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers Irradiate, Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence Of things invisible to mortal fight. Now had th' almighty Father from above, High thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye, In blissful folitude; he then furvey'd Only begotten Son, feeft thou what rage Heap'd |