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A day entire, and night's due courfe adjourn, Man's voice commanding, ,,Sun in Gibeon

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,,And thou moon in the vale of Afcalon, ,,Till Ifrael overcome;" fo call the third From Abraham, fon of Ifaac, from him His whole descent, who thus fhall. Canaan

win.

Here Adam interpos'd,

O fent from

Heav'n,

270

Inlightner of my darkness! gracious things Thou haft reveal'd; thofe chiefly which con

cern

Juft Abraham and his feed: now first I find

Mine eyes true op'ning, and my heart much eas'd;

Ere while perplex'd with thoughts, what would become

Of me and all mankind: but now I fee

275

His day, in whom all nations fhall be blest; Favor unmerited by me, who fought Forbidden knowledge forbidden means.

This yet I apprehend not, why to thofe, 280 Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth,

So many and fo various laws are giv'n:

So

many laws argue Among them:

To many fins

how can God with such re

fide?

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 fee
Law can difcover fin, but not remove,
Save by thofe fhadowy expiations weak,
The blood of bulls and goats, they may con-
clude

290

Some blood more precious muft be paid for

man;

Juft for unjust: that in fuch righteousness
To them by faith imputed, they may find 295
Juftification towards God, and peace

Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies
Cannot appeale; nor man the moral part
Perform and not performing, cannot live.
So law appears imperfect, and but giv'n 300
With purpose to refign them in full time
Up to a better cov'nant; difciplin'd

From fhadowy types to truth; from flesh to fpirit,

From impofition of ftrict laws, to free Acceptance of large grace; from fervil fear 305 To filial: works of law, to works of faith. And therefore fhall not Mofes, though of God

Highly belov'd, being but the minister

Of law, his people into Canaan lead;

But Jofua: whom the Gentiles Jefus call; 310 His name and office bearing, who shall quell The adversary serpent; and bring back Throug the world's wilderness long wander'd

man

Safe to eternal Paradife 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 fafes them penitent;
By Judges first, then under Kings of
whom

The second, both for piety renown'd

And puissant deeds, a promife fhall receive
Irrevocable, that this regal throne

For ever fhall indure: the like shall sing
All prophecy, that of the royal stock

320

325

Of David, fo I name this king, fhall rife
A fon, the woman's feed to thee foretold':
Foretold to Abraham; as in whom fhall truft
All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings
The laft; for of his reign fhall be no end. 330
But first a long fucceffion must ensue,

And his next fon, for wealth and wisdom fam'd,

The clouded Ark of God, till then in tents Wand'ring, fhall in a glorious Temple infhrine.

Such follow him as fhall be register'd

335

Part good par bad; of bad the longer scroll:
Whole foul idolatries, and other faults
Heap'd to the popular fum, will fo incenfe
God, as to leave them, and expofe their land,
Their city, his temple, and his holy ark, 340.
With all his facred things, a scorn and prey
To that proud city, whofe high walls thou
faw'ft

Left in confufion; Babylon thence call'd.
There in captivity he lets them dwell
The fpace of feventy years: then brings them

back,

345 Remembring mercy, and his cov'nant fworn To David, stablish'd as the days of heav'n.. Return'd from Babylon, by leave of kings Their lords, whom God difpos'd, the House of God

They firft re-edify: and for a while

350

In mean eftate live moderate: till grown
In wealth and multitude, factions they grow;
But firft, among the priests diffention springs;
Men who attend the altar, and should mast

Endeavour peace:

their strife
ftrife pollution

brings

Upon the Temple itfelf: at last they seize

355

The fceptre, and regard not David's fons:
Then lofe it to à stranger, that the true
Anointed king Meffiah might be born

Barr'd of his right: yet at his birth a star 360
Unseen before in heav'n proclaims him come,
And guides the eastern Sages, who inquire
His place, to offer incenfe, myrrh and gold:
His place of birth a folemn Angel tells
To fimple fhepherds keeping watch by
night:

365
They gladly thither hafte, and by a choir
Of fquadron'd Angels hear his carol fung.
A Virgin is his mother, but his fire

The pow'r of the moft High! He fhall afcend throne hereditary, and bound his

The

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He ceas'd, difcerning Adam with fuch joy Surcharg'd, as had, like grief, been dew'd in

tears,

Without the vent of words; which thefe he

breath'd.

O prophet of glad tidings! finisher

375

Of utmost hope! now clear I understand, What oft my steadieft thoughts have fearch'd

in vain:

Why our great expectatiou should be call'd

Thee feed of woman; Virgin Mother, hail!

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