100

Who this is we must learn, for Man he feems

In all his lineaments, though in his face
The glimpses of his Father's glory fhine,
Ye fee our danger on the utmoft edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate,
But must with someting fudden be oppos'd,
Not force, but well couch'd fraud, well woyen fnares,
E're in the head of Nations he appear

Their King, their Leader, and Supream on Earth.
I, when no other durft, fole undertook

The difmal expedition to find out

And ruine Adam, and the exploit perform'd
Successfully; a calmer Voyage now

Will waft me; and the way found profp'rous once
Induces best to hope of like fuccefs.

He ended, and his words impression left
Of much amazement to th' infernal Crew,
Distracted and furpriz'd with deep difmay
At these sad tidings; but no time was then
110 For long indulgence to their fears or grief:
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 Adam's overthrow, and led their march
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
120 His easie steps; 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 hin to try;
So to fubvert whom he fufpected rais'd

To

130

140

To end his Reign on Earth fo long enjoy'd:
But contrary unweeting he fulfill'd

The purpos'd Counsel pre-ordain'd and fixt
Of the most High, who in full frequence bright
Of Angels, thus to Gabriel fmiling fpake.

Gabriel this day by proof thou shalt behold,
Thou and all Angels converfant on Earth
With man or mens affairs, how I begin
To verifie that folemn Meffage late,
On which I fent thee to the Virgin pure
In Galilee, that she should bear a Son

Great in Renown, and call'd the Son of God;
Then toldst her, doubting how these things could be
To her a Virgin, that on her should come

The Holy Ghoft, and the Power of the Highest
O're-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 hit boarts
And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng
Of his Apoftafie; he might have learnt
Lefs overweening, fince he fail'd in Job,
Whose constant perfeverance overcame
What e're his cruel malice could invent.
150 He now shall know I can produce a Man
Of female Seed, far abler to resist
All his follicitations, and at length

All his vaft force, and drive him back to Hell,
Winning by Conqueft 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, e're I fend him forth

To conquer Sin and Death the two grand foes,
160 By Humiliation and ftrong Sufferance: 7!
His weakness shall o'recome Satanick strength
And all the world, and mafs of finful flesh;
That all the Angels and Ætherial Powers,
They now, and men hereafter may difcern,
From what confummate vertue I have chofe
This perfect Man, by merit call'd my Son,
To earn Salvation for the Sons of men.

So fpake the Eternal Father, and all Heaven Admiring stood a fpace, then into Hymns: 170 Burst forth, and in Celestial measures mov'd, T Circling the Throne and Singing, 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 Vertue, though untri̇'d,
Againft, what e're may tempt, what e're feduce,
Allure, or terrifie, or undermine.

180 Be fruftrate all ye ftratagems of Hell,

And devillish 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 breft,
How best 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;
190 And

190 And his deep thoughts, the better to converfe
With folitude, till far from track of men,
Thought following thought, and step by step led on,
He entred now the bordering defart wild,
And with dark shades and rocks environ'd round,
His holy meditation thus pursu’d.

O what a multitude of thoughts at once
Awakn'd in me fwarm, while I confider
What from within I feel my felf, and hear,
What from without comes often to my ears,
200 Ill forting with my prefent ftate compar'd.
When I was yet a Child, no childish play
To me was pleasing, all my mind was set
Serious to learn and know, and thence to do
What might be publick good; my felf I thought
Born to that end, born to promote all truth,
All righteous things: therefore above my years,
The Law of God I read and found it fweet,
Made it my whole delight, and in it grew
To fuch perfection, that e're yet my age

210 Had measur'd twice fix years, at our great Feast
I went into the Temple, there to hear

1

The Teachers of our Law, and to propose
What might improve my knowledge or their own;
And was admir'd by all, yet this not all
To which my Spirit afpir'd, victorious deeds
Flam'd in my heart, heroic acts, one while
To refcue Ifrael from the Roman yoke,"
Then to fubdue and quel o're all the earth.
Brute violence and proud Tyrannick pow'r,
220 Till truth were freed, and equity reftor'd:
Yet held it more humane, more heavenly first
By winning words to conquer willing hearts,
C

And

And make perswasion do the work of fear;
At least to try, and teach the erring Soul
Not wilfully mif-doing, but unaware
Mifled; the ftubborn only to destroy.

These growing thoughts my Mother foon perceiving
By words at times cast forth inly rejoyc'd,
And said to me apart, high are thy thoughts
230 O Son, but nourish them and let them foar
To what hight facred vertue and true worth
Can raise them, though above example high;
By matchless Deeds exprefs thy matchless Sire.
For know, thou art no Son of mortal man,
Though men efteem thee low of Parentage,
Thy Father is the Eternal King who rules

240

All Heaven and Earth, Angels and Sons of men,
A messenger from God fore-told thy Birth
Conceiv'd in me a Virgin, he foretold

Thou should't be great and fit on David's Throne,
And of thy Kingdom there shall be no end,

At thy Nativity a glorious Quire

Of Angels in the fields of Bethlehem fung
To Shepherds watching at their folds by night,
And told them the Meffiah now was born,
Where they might fee him, and to thee they came;
Directed to the Manger where thou lay'ft,
For in the Inn was left no better room:
A Star, not seen before in Heaven appearing
250 Guided the Wife Men thither from the East,

To honour thee with Incenfe, Myrrh, and Gold,
By whofe bright courfe led on they found the place,
Affirming it thy Star new grav'n in Heav'n,
By which they knew the King of Ifrael born..
Just Simeon and Prophetick Anna, warn'd
By Vision found thee in the Temple, and spake

Before