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 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
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 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
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
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