With soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopt promises, descends the hill with Michael; waHis sluices, as the Heaven his windows shut.

kens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with The ark no more now floats, but seerns on ground, gentle dreams composed to quieiness of mind and Fast on the top of some high mountain fix’d.

submission. Michael in either hand leads them And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear;

out of Paradise, the fiery sword waving behind With clamor thence the rapid currents drive,

them, and the Cherubim taking their stations to Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide. guard the place. Forth with from out the ark a raven flies, And after him, the surer messenger,

As one who in his journey bates at noon, A dove sent forth once and again to spy

Though bent on speed; so here the archangel Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light:

paus'd The second time returning, in his bill

Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restord, An olive-leaf he brings, pacific sign:

If Adam aught perhaps might interpose ; Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. The ancient sire descends, with all his train:

“ Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end , Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds

Much thou hast yet to see ; but I perceive A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow

Thy mortal sight to fail : objects divine Conspicuous with three listed colors gay,

Must needs impair and weary human sense : Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. Henceforth what is to come I will relate; Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad,

Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. Greatly rejoic'd ; and thus his joy broke forth.

This second source of men, while yet but few, “O thou, who future things canst represent And while the dread of judgment past remains As present, heavenly instructor! I revive

Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity,
At this last sight; assur'd that Man shall live, With some regard to what is just and right
With all the creatures, and their seed preserve.

Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace;
Far less I now lament for one whole world Laboring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop.
Of wicked sons destroy'd, than I rejoice

Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, For one man found so perfect, and so just,

Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, That God vouchsafes to raise another world With large wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred feast, From him, and all his anger to forget.

Shall spend their days in joy unblard ; and dwell But say, what mean those color'd streaks in Heaven Long time in peace, by families and tribes, Distended, as the brow of God appeas'd ?

Under paternal rule: lill one shall rise
Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content
The fiuid skirts of that same watery cloud, With fair equality, fraternal state,
Lest it again dissolve, and shower the Earth ?" Will arrogate dominion undeservid

To whom the archangel. “ Dextrously thou aim'st; Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
So willingly doth God remit his ire,

Concord and law of nature from the Earth; Though late repenting him of Man deprav’d; Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse The whole Earth fillid with violence, and all fiesh Subjection to his empire tyrannous : Corrupting each their way; yet, those remov'd, A mighty hunter thence he shall be styl'd Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, Before the Lord ; as in despite of Heaven, That he relents, not to blot out mankind;

Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty ; And makes a covenant never to destroy

And from rebellion shall derive his name,
The Earth again by flood ; nor let the sea

Though of rebellion others he accuse.
Surpass his bounds ; nor rain to drown the world, He with a crew, whom like ambition joins
With man therein or beast; but, when he brings With him or under him to tyrannize,
Over the Earth a cloud, will therein set

Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find His triple-color'd bow, whereon to look,

The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge
And call to mind his covenant: day and night, Boils out from under-ground, the mouth of Hell
Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost, Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build
Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new, A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven;
Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall And get themselves a name; lest, far dispers'd
dwell.”

In foreign lands, their memory be lost;
Regardless whether good or evil fame.

But God, who oft descends to visit men
BOOK XII.

Unseen, and through their habitations walks
To mark their doings, them beholding soon,

Comes down to see their city, ere the tower
THE ARGUMENT.

Obstruct Heaven-towers; and in derision sets

Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase
The angel Michael continues, from the food, to re- Quite out their native language; and, instead,

late what shall succeed; then, in the mention of To sow a jangling noise of words unknown:
Abraham, comes by degrees to explain, who that Forth with a hideous gabble rises loud,
seed of the woman shall be, which was promised Among the builders; each to other calls
Adam and Eve in the Fall; his incarnation, death, Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage,
resurrection, and ascension ; the state of the As mock'd they storm: great laughter
church till his second coming. Adam, greatly

Heaven,
satisfied and recomforted by these relations and And looking down, to see the hubbub str

And hear the din: thus was the building left To Haran; after him a cumbrous train
Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nain'd." Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude ;

Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeas'd. Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth
O exeerable son! so to aspire

With God, who call'd him, in a land unknown. Above his brethren; to himself assuming

Canaan he now attains ; I see his tents Authority usurp'd, from God not given:

Pitch'd about Sechem, and the neighboring plain He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl,

Of Moreh: there by promise he receives Dominion absolute; that right we hold

Gift to his progeny of all that land, By his donation; but man over men

From Hamath northward to the desert south ; He made not lord; such title to himself

(Things by their names I call, though yet unnam'd :) Reserving, human left from human free.

From Hermon east to the great western sea; But this usurper his encroachment proud Mount Hermon, yonder sea ; each place behold, Stays not on man; to God his tower intends

In prospect, as I point them; on the shore Siege and defiance : wretched man! what food Mount Carmel ; here, the double-founted stream, Will he convey up thither, to sustain

Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons Himself and his rash army; where thin air Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills. Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, This ponder, that all nations of the Earth And famish him of breath, if not of bread ?" Shall in his seed be blessed : by that seed

To whom thus Michael. “ Justly thou abhorr'st Is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise That son, who on the quiet state of men

The serpent's head; whereof to thee anon Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue

Plainlier shall be reveal'd. This patriarch blest, Rational liberty; yet know withal,

Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call, Since thy original lapse, true liberty

A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves ; Is lost, which always with right reason dwells Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown: Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being: - The grand-child, with twelve sons increas'd, departs Reason in man obscur'd, or not obey'd,

From Canaan, to a land hereafter call'd Immediately inordinate desires,

Egypt, divided by the river Nile; And upstart passions, catch the government See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths From reason; and to servitude reduce

Into the sea : to sojourn in that land Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits He comes, invited by a younger son Within himself unworthy powers to reign In time of dearth ; à son, whose worthy deeds Over free reason, God, in judgment just,

Raise him to be the second in that realm Subjects him from without to violent lords ; Of Pharaoh : there he dies, and leaves his race Who oft as undeservedly entbral

Growing into a nation; and, now grown,'; His outward freedom: tyranny must be ;

Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse.

To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests (slaves Yet sometimes nations will decline so low Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, Inhospitably, and kills their infant males : But justice, and some fatal curse annex'd, Till by two brethren, (these two brethren call Deprives them of their outward liberty;

Moses and Aaron,) sent from God to claim Their inward lost: witness the irreverent son His people from enthralment, they return or him who built the ark; who, for the shame With glory, and spoil, back to their promis'd lend. Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies Sertant of servants, on his vicious race.

To know their God, or message to regard, Thus will this latter, as the former world,

Must be compell’d by signs and judgments dire ; Still tend from bad to worse; till God at last, To blood unshed the rivers must be turn'd; Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw

Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill
His presence from among them, and avert With loth'd intrusion, and fill all the land ;
His holy eyes ; resolving from thenceforth His cattle must of rot and murrain die ;
To leave them to their own polluted ways; Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss,
And one peculiar nation to select

And all his people ; thunder mix'd with hail,
From all the rest, of whom to be invok'd, Hail mix'd with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky,
A nation from one faithful man to spring : And wheel on the Earth, devouring where it rolls,
Him on this side Euphrates yet residing,

What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain, Bred up in idol-worship: 0, that men

A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down (Canst thou believe ) should be so stupid grown, Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green; While yet the patriarch liv'd, who 'scap'd the flood, Darkness must overshadow all his bounds, As to forsake the living God, and fall

Palpable darkness, and blot out three days;
To worship their own work in wood and stone Last, with one midnight-stroke, all the first-born
For gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds
To call by vision, from his father's house, The river-dragon tam'd at length submits
His kindred, and false gods, into a land

To let his sojourners depart, and oft
Which he will show him; and from him will raise Humbles his stubborn heart; but still, as ice
A mighty nation; and upon him shower

More harden'd after thaw; till, in his rage
His benediction so, that in his secd

Pursuing whom he late dismiss'd, the sea All nations shall be blest : he straight obeys ; Swallows him with his host ; but them lets pass, Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes : As on dry land, between two crystal walls ; I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith Aw'd by the rod of Moses so to stand He leaves his gods, his friends, and native soil, Divided, till his rescued gain their shore: Er of Chaldsea, passing now the ford

Such wondrous power God to his saint will lend,

come

many laws

Though present in his angel; who shall go Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things Before them in a cloud, and pillar of fire; Thou hast reveald ; those chiefly, which concem By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire ;

Just Abraham and his seed : now first I find To guide them in their journey, and remove Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eas'd Behind them, while the obdurate king pursues : Erewhile perplex'd with thoughts, what would be All night he will pursue; but his approach Darkness defends between till morning watch; of me and all mankind: but now I see Then through the fiery pillar, and the cloud, His day, in whom all nations shall be blest ; God looking forth will trouble all his host, Favor unmerited by me, who sought And craze their chariot-wheels: when by command Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means. Moses once more his potent rod extends

This yet I apprehend not, why to those Over the sea; the sea his rod obeys;

Among whom God will deign to dwell on Earth On their embattled ranks the waves return,

So
many

and so various laws are given. And overwhelm their war: the race elect

So

argue so many sins Safe towards Canaan from the shore advance Among them; how can God with such reside ?" Through the wild desert, not the readiest way; To whom thus Michael. “ Doubt not but that sin Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarm’d,

Will reign among them, as of thee begot; War terrify them inexpert, and fear

And therefore was law given them, to evince Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather Their natural pravity, by stirring up Inglorious life with servitude ; for life

Sin against law to fight: that when they see To noble and ignoble is more sweet

Law can discover sin, but not remove, Untrain'd in arms, where rashness leads not on. Save by those shadowy expiations weak, This also shall they gain by their delay

The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude In the wide wilderness: there they shall found Some blood more precious must be paid for man; Their government, and their great senate choose Just for unjust; that in such righteousness Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordaind: To them by faith imputed, they may find God from the mount of Sinai, whose grey top

Justification towards God, and peace
Shall tremble, he descending, will himself

Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies
In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets' sound, Cannot appease: nor man the moral part
Ordain them laws ; part, such as appertain Perform; and, not performing, cannot live.
To civil justice ; part, religious rites

So law appears imperfect; and but given
Or sacrifice; informing them, by types

With purpose to resign them, in full time, And shadows, of that destin'd Seed to bruise Up to a belter covenant; disciplin'd The serpent, by what means he shall achieve From shadowy types to truth ; from flesh to spirit, Mankind's deliverance. But the voice of God From imposition of strict laws to free To mortal ear is dreadful : they beseech

| Acceptance of large grace ; from servile fear That Moses might report to them his will,

To filial: works of law to works of faith. And terror cease ; he grants what they besought, And therefore shall not Moscs, though of God Instructed that to God is no access,

Highly belov’d, being but the minister Without mediator, whose high office now

Of law, his people into Canaan lead ; Moses in figure bears; to introduce

But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, One greater, of whose day he shall foretell, His name and office bearing, who shall quell And all the prophets in their age the times The adversary-serpent, and bring back of great Messiah shall sing. Thus, laws and rights Through the world's wilderness long-wander'd map Establishid, such delight hath God in men

Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes

Meanwhile they, in their earthly Canaan plac'd, Among them set up his tabernacle ;

Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins The Holy One with mortal men to dwell: National interrupt their public peace, By his prescript a sanctuary is fram'd

Provoking God to raise them enemies; Of cedar, overlaid with gold ; therein

From whom as oft he saves them penitent An ark, and in the ark his testimony,

By judges first, then under kings; of whom 'The records of his covenant; over these

The second, both for piety renown'd
A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive
Of two bright cherubim; before him burn Irrevocable, that his regal throne
Seven lamps as in a zodiac representing

For ever shall endure; the like shall sing
The heavenly fires ; over the tent a cloud All prophesy, that of the royal stock
Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night;

Of David (so I name this king) shall rise
Save when they journey, and at length they come, A Son, the woman's seed to thee foretold.
Conducted by his angel, to the land

Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust Promis'd to Abraham and his seed :-the rest All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings Were long to tell; how many battles fought; The last; for of his reign shall be no end. How many kings destroy’d; and kingdoms won; But first, a long succession must ensue ; Or how the Sun shall in mid Heaven stand still And his next son, for wealth and wisdom farn'd, A day entire, and night's due course adjourn, The clouded ark of God, till then in tents Man's voice commanding, Sun, in Gibeon stand; Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. And thou, Moon, in the vale of Aialon,

Such follow him, as shall be register'd Till Israel overcome!' So call the third

Part good, part bad : of bad the longer scroll; From Abraham, son of Isaac; and from him Whose foul idolatries, and other faults His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win.” Heap'd to the popular sum, will so incense

Here Adam interpos'd. “O sent from Heaven, God, as to leave them, and expose their land,

Their city, his temple, and his holy ark,

In his redemption; and that his obedience,
With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey Imputed, becomes their's by faith ; his merits
so that proud city, whose high walls thou saw'st To save them, not their own, though legal, works.
Left in confusion; Babylon thence call’d.

For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd,
l'here in captivity he lets them dwell

Seiz'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemn'd
The space of seventy years; then brings them back, A shameful and accurs'd, nail'd to the cross
Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn By his own nation; slain for bringing life :
so David, stablish'd as the days of Heaven. But to the cross he nails thy enemies,
Return'd from Babylon by leave of kings

The law that is against thee, and the sins
Their lords, whom God dispos'd, the house of God Of all mankind with him there crucified,
They first reedify; and for a while

Never to hurt them more who rightly trust
In mean estate live moderate ; till grown

In this his satisfaction: so he dies,
In wealth and multitude, factious they grow : But soon revives; Death over him no power
But first among the priests dissension springs, Shall long usurp: ere the third dawning light
Men who attend the altar, and should most

Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise
Endeavor peace : their strife pollution brings Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light,
Upon the temple itself: at last they seize Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems,
The sceptre, and regard not David's sons ;

His death for man, as many as offer'd life
Then lose it to a stranger, that the true

Neglect not, and the benefit embrace
Anointed king Messiah might be born

By faith not void of works: this godlike act
Barr'd of his right; yet at his birth a star, Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have died,
Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come; In sin for ever lost from life; this act
And guides the eastern sages, who inquire Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength,
His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold : Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms;
His place of birth a solemn angel tells

And fix far deeper in his head their stings
To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel,
They gladly thither haste, and by a quire Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep,
Of squadrond angels hear his carol sung.

A gentle wafting to immortal life.
A virgin is his mother, but his sire

Nor after resurrection shall he stay
The power of the Most High: he shall ascend Longer on Earth, than certain times to appear
The throne hereditary, and bound his reign To his disciples, men who in his life
With Earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Hea-Still follow'd him; to them shall leave in charge
vens."

To teach all nations what of him they learn'd
He ceas d, discerning Adam with such joy And his salvation ; them who shall believe
Surcharg'd, as had like grief been dew'd in tears, Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign
Without the vent of words; which these he breath'd. Of washing them from guilt of sin to life
“O prophet of glad tidings, finisher

Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall,
Of utmost hope! now clear I understand

For death, like that which the Redeemer died.
What oft my steadiest thoughts have search'd in vain; All nations they shall teach ; for, from that day,
Why our great Expectation should be callid

Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins
The seed of woman: virgin mother, hail, Salvation shall be preach'd, but to the sons
High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world ;
Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son So in his seed all nations shall be blest.
Of God Most High; so God with man unites. Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend
Needs must the serpent now his capital bruise With victory triumphing through the air
Espect with mortal pain : say where and when Over his foes and thine ; there shall surprise
Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's heel.” The serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains

To whom thus Michael. “ Dream not of their fight, Through all his realm, and there confounded leave;
As of a duel, or the local wounds

Then enter into glory, and resume
Of heard or heel: not therefore joins the Son His seat at God's right hand, exalted high
Manhood to godhead, with more strength to foil Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come,
Thy enemy; nor so is overcome

When this world's dissolution shall be ripe,
Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise, With glory and power to judge both quick and dead;
Disabled, not to give thee thy death's wound: To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward
Which he, who comes thy Savior, shall recure, His faithful, and receive them into bliss,
Not by destroying Satan, but his works

Whether in Heaven or Earth ; for then the Earth
In thee, and in thy seed: nor can this be

Shall all be Paradise, far happier place
But by fulfilling that which thou didst want, Than this of Eden, and far happier days.”
Obedience to the law of God, impos'd

So spake the archangel Michael; then pausid,
On penalty of death, and suffering death ; As at the world's great period ; and our sire,
The penalty to thy transgression due,

Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied.
And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: "O Goodness infinite! Goodness immense !
So only can high Justice rest appaid.

That all this good of evil shall produce,
The law of God exact he shall fulfil

And evil turn to good ; more wonderful
Both by obedience and by love, though love Than that which by creation first brought forth
Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment

Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand,
He shall endure, by coming in the flesh

Whether I should repent me now of sin
To a reproachful life, and cursed death ;

By me done, and occasion'd; or rejoice
Proclaiming life to all who shall believe

Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring

To God more glory, more good-will to men In glory of the Father, to dissolve
From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. Satan with his perverted world; then raise
But
say,
if our Deliverer up to Heaven

From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd, Must reascend, what will betide the few

New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date, His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd, Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love; The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide To bring forth fruits, joy, and eternal bliss." His people, who defend? Will they not deal

He ended ; and thus Adam last replied. Worse with his followers than with him they dealt ?" “ How soon hath thy prediction, seer blest, "Be sure they will,” said the angel ; " but from Measur'd this transient world, the race of time, Heaven

Till time stand fix'd! Beyond is all abyss, He to his own a Comforter will send,

Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. The promise of the Father, who shall dwell Greatly instructed I shall hence depart; His Spirit within them; and the law of faith, Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill Working through love, upon their hearts shall write, Of knowledge what this vessel can contain ; To guide them in all truth : and also arm

Beyond which was my folly to aspire. With spiritual armor, able to resist

Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best, Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts ; And love with fear the only God; to walk What man can do against them, not afraid, As in his presence; ever to observe Though to the death; against such cruelties His providence; and on him sole depend, With inward consolations recompens d,

Merciful over all his works, with good And oft supported so as shall amaze

Still overcoming evil, and by small Their proudest persecutors ; for the Spirit, Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak Pour'd first on his Apostles, whom he sends Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise To evangelize the nations, then on all

By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake Baptiz'd, shall them with wondrous gifts endue Is fortitude to highest victory, To speak all tongues, and do all miracles,

And, to the faithful, death, the gate of life ; As did their Lord before them. Thus they win Taught this by his example, whom I now Great numbers of each nation to receive

Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest." With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: at length To whom thus also the angel last replied. Their ministry perform'd, and race well run, “ This having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum Their doctrine and their story written left, of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the star They die ; but in their room, as they forewarn, Thou knew'st by name, and all the ethereal powers Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves, All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven

Or works of God in Heaven, earth, or sea, To their own vile advantages shall turn

And all the riches of this world enjoy’dst, Of lucre and ambition ; and the truth

And all the rule, one empire ; only add With superstitions and traditions taint,

Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith, Left only in those written records pure,

Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, Though not but by the Spirit understood.

By name to come callid charity, the soul Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names, Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth Places, and titles, and with these to join

To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess Secular power; though feigning still to act

A Paradise within thce, happier far.By spiritual, to themselves appropriating

Let us descend now therefore from this top The Spirit of God, promis'd alike, and given Of speculation ; for the hour precise To all believers; and, from that pretence, Exacts our parting hence; and see! the guards, Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force By me encamp'd on yonder hill, expect On every conscience; laws which none shall find Their motion ; at whose front a flaming sword, Left them enrolld, or what the spirit within In signal of remove, waves fiercely round : Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; But force the Spirit of grace itself, and bind Her also I with gentle dreams have calm'd His consort Liberty? what, but unbuild

Portending good, and all her spirits compos'd His living temples, built by faith to stand,

To meek submission : thou, at season fit, Their own faith, not another's? for, on Earth, Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard ; Who against faith and conscience can be heard Chiefly, what may concern her faith to know, Infallible ? yet many will presume:

The great deliverance by her seed to come Whence heavy persecution shall arise

(For by the woman's seed) on all mankind : On all, who in the worship persevere

That ye may live, which will be many days,
Of spirit and truth ; the rest, far greater part, Both in one faith unanimous, though sad,
Will deem in outward rites and specious forms With cause for evils past ; yet much more cheerd
Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire

With meditation on the happy end.”
Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith He ended, and they both descend the hill;
Rarely be found : so shall the world go on, Descended, Adam to the bower, where Eve
To good malignant, to bad men benign;

Lay sleeping, ran before: but found her wak'd; Under her own weight groaning; till the day And thus with words not sad she him receiv'd. Appear of respiration to the just,

“Whence thou return'st, and whither went'st, I And vengeance to the wicked, at return

know; Of him so lately promis'd to thy aid,

For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise, The woman's Seed ; obscurely then foretold, Which he hath sent propitious, some great good Now amplier known thy Savior and thy Lord; Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be reveal'd Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;