Thenceforth the nations may not doubt; I saw
The Prophet do him reverence; on him rifing 80
Out of the water, heav'n above the clouds
Unfold her crystal doors, thence on his head
A perfect Dove descend, whate'er it meant,
And out of heav'n the fovereign voice I hear,
This is my Son belov'd, in Him I'm pleas'd. 85
His mother then is mortal, but his Sire,
He who obtains the monarchy of heav'n;
And what will He not do to advance his Son?
His first-begot we know, and fore have felt,
When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; 90
Who this is we must learn, for Man he seems
In all his lineaments, though in his face
The glimpses of his Father's glory shine:
Ye see our danger on the utmost edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate,
But must with something sudden be oppos'd;
Not force, but well-couch'd fraud,. well-woven
Ere in the head of nations He appear
[ínares,
Their king, their leader, and supream on earth. I, when no other durft, fole undertook
The dismal expedition, to find out
B 3
105
And ruin ADAM, and th' exploit perform'd
Successfully: a calmer voyage now
Will waft me; and the way found profp'rous once,
Induces best to hope of like fuccess.
He ended, and his words impreffion left
Of much amazement to th'infernal crew,
Distracted, and surpriz'd with deep dismay,
At these fad tidings; but no time was then
For long indulgence to their fears, or grief: 110
Unanimous they all commit the care
And management of this main enterprize
To him their great dictator, whose attempt
At first against mankind fo well had thriv'd,
In A DA M's overthrow, and led their march 115
From hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light,
Regents, and potentates, and kings, yea gods,
Of many a pleasant realm and province wide.
So to the coast of JORDAN he directs
His eafie fteps, girded with fnaky wiles,
Where he might likelieft find this new declar'd,
This man of men attested Son of GOD,
Temptation and all guile on him to try;
So to fubvert whom he suspected rais'd
To end his reign on earth, fo long enjoy'd: 125
But contrary, un-weeting, he fulfill'd
The purpos'd counsel pre-ordain'd and fix'd
Of the most High, who in full frequence bright
Of angels, thus to GABRIEL fmiling fpake. 129
GABRIEL, this day by proof thou shalt behold,
Thou and all angels converfant on earth
With man or men's affairs, how I begin
To verifie that folemn meffage, late
On which I fent thee to the Virgin pure
In GALILEE, that the fhould bear a Son
Great in renown, and call'd the Son of GOD;
Then toldft her, doubting how these things could be
To her a Virgin, that on her should come
135
The HOLY GHOST, and the Power of the Highest
O'er-shadow her; this man,born and now up-grown,
To fhew him worthy of his birth divine
And high prediction, henceforth I expose
To Satan; let him tempt and now affay
His utmost fubtilty, because he boasts
And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng
Of his apoftafie; he might have learnt
Lefs overweening, fince he fail'd in Joв,
B 4
Whose conftant perfeverance overcame
Whate'er his cruel malice could invent;
He now shall know I can produce a Man
Of female feed, far abler to resist
All his follicitations, and at length
All his vaft force, and drive him back to hell,
Winning by conquest what the first man lost,
By fallacy furpriz'd. But first I mean
To exercise him in the wilderness,
There he shall first lay down the rudiments
Of his great warfare, ere I send him forth
To conquer Sin and Death, the two grand foes,
By humiliation and strong sufferance:
160
His weakness shall o'ercome Satanick strength,
And all the world, and mafs of finful flesh;
That all the angels and æthereal powers,
They now, and men hereafter, may discern,
From what confummate virtue I have chofe
This perfect man, by merit call'd My Son,
To earn salvation for the fons of men.
So fpake th' Eternal Father, and all heav'n Admiring stood a space; then into hymns
Burst forth, and in celestial measures mov'd,
170
Circling the throne, and finging, while the hand
Sung with the voice, and this the argument.
Victory and triumph to the Son of God!
Now entring his great duel, not of arms,
But to vanquish, by wisdom hellish wiles.
The FATHER knows the SON; therefore fecure
Ventures his filial virtue, though un-try'd,
175
Against whate'er may tempt, whate'er feduce,
Allure, or terrifie, or undermine.
Be fruftrate all ye ftratagems of hell,
And devilish machinations come to nought.
So they in heav'n their odes and vigils tun'd:
Mean-while the Son of GOD, who yet fome days
Lodg'd in BETHABARA Where JOHN baptiz'd,
Mufing, and much revolving in his breast, 185
How beft the mighty work he might begin
Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first
Publish his god-like office now mature,
One day forth walk'd alone, the SPIRIT leading;
And his deep thoughts, the better to converfe 190
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