Wherein past, present, future, he beholds,
Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake:

80

Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage Transports our Adversary? whom no bounds Prescrib'd, no bars of Hell, nor all the chains Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss Wide interrupt can hold; so bent he seems On desperate revenge, that shall redound Upon his own rebellious head. And now, Through all restraint broke loose, he wings

his way

Not far off Heav'n, in the precincts of light,
Directly tow'rds the new-created world,

85

And Man there plac'd, with purpose to assay 90
If him by force he can destroy, or worse,
By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert,
For Man will hearken to his glozing lies,
And easily transgress the sole command,
Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall,
He and his faithless progeny. Whose fault?
Whose but his own? Ingrate, he had of me
All he could have; I made him just and right,
Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.
Such I created all th' ethereal pow'rs

95

100

And Sp'rits, both them who stood and them

who fail'd.

Freely they stood, who stood, and fell, who fell. Not free, what proof could they have giv'n sincere Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love, Where only what they needs must do appear'd,

Not what they would? what praise could they

receive?

106

What pleasure I from such obedience paid,
When will and reason (reason also's choice)
Useless and vain, of freedom both despoil'd,
Made passive both, had serv'd necessity,
Not me? They therefore as to right belong'd,
So were created, nor can justly' accuse
Their Maker, or their making, or their fate,
As if predestination over-rul'd

Their will, dispos'd by absolute decree

115

Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed
Their own revolt, not I. If I foreknew,
Foreknowledge had no influ'nce on their fault,
Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown.
So without least impulse or shadow of fate, 120
Or aught by me immutably foreseen,
They trespass, authors to themselves in all
Both what they judge and what they choose;

for so

126

I form'd them free, and free they must remain,
Till they enthrall themselves; I else must change
Their nature, and revoke the high decree
Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd
Their freedom, they themselves ordain'd their fall.
The first sort by their own suggestion fell, 129
Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls, deceiv'd
By th' other first: Man therefore shall find grace,
The other none: in mercy' and justice both,

Through Heav'n and Earth, so shall my glory'

excel,

But mercy first and last shall brightest shine. Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd All Heav'n, and in the blessed Sp'rits elect 136 Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd.

140

Beyond compare the Son of God was seen
Most glorious; in him all his Father shone
Substantially express'd; and in his face
Divine compassion visibly appear'd,
Love without end, and without measure grace ;
Which utt'ring, thus he to his Father spake:

O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd
Thy sov'reign sentence, that Man should find
grace;
145
For which both Heav'n and Earth shall high extol
Thy praises with th' innumerable sound
Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne
Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest.
For should Man finally be lost, should Man, 150
Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son,
Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd
With his own folly? that be from thee far,
That far be from thee, Father, who art Judge
Of all things made, and judgest only right. 155
Or shall the Adversary thus obtain

His end, and frustrate thine? Shall he fulfil
His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought,
Or proud return, though to his heavier doom,
Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell 160

Draw after him the whole race of mankind,
By him corrupted? Or, wilt thou thyself
Abolish thy creation, and unmake,

For him, what for thy glory thou hast made?
So should thy goodness and thy greatness both
Be question'd and blasphem'd without defence.
To whom the great Creator thus reply'd:
O Son, in whom my soul hath chief delight,
Son of my bosom, Son who art alone

My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, 170 All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are; all purpose hath decreed.

As my eternal purpose

Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will, Yet not of will in him, but grace in me

Freely vouchsaf'd. Once more I will renew 175
His lapsed pow'rs, though forfeit and inthrall'd
By sin to foul exorbitant desires.

Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand
On even ground against his mortal foe,

By me upheld, that he may know how frail 180
His fall'n condition is, and to me owe

All his deliv'rance, and to none but me.
Some I have chosen of peculiar grace

Elect above the rest; so is my will:

The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd Their sinful state, and to appease betimes

186

Th' incensed Deity, while offer'd grace

Invites; for I will clear their senses dark,
What may suffice, and soften stony hearts

To

pray, repent, and bring obedience due.

190

To pray'r, repentance, and obedience due, Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent, Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. And I will place within them as a guide My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear, Light after light well us'd they shall attain, 196 And, to the end persisting, safe arrive. This my long suffrance and my day of grace They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more, That they may stumble on, and deeper fall: 201 And none but such from mercy I exclude. But yet all is not done: Man disobeying, Disloyal breaks his fealty, and sins Against the High Supremacy of Heav'n, Affecting Godhead, and so losing all, To expiate his treason hath nought left, But to destruction sacred and devote, He, with his whole posterity, must die; Die he or justice must; unless for him Some other able, and as willing, pay The rigid satisfaction, death for death. Say heav'nly Pow'rs, where shall we find such love?

Which of ye will be mortal to redeem

205

210

Man's mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save ? Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? 216

He ask'd; but all the heav'nly choir stood mute, And silence was in Heav'n: on Man's behalf. Patron or intercessor none appear'd,