So fpake th' Eternal Father, and all Heav'n Admiring flood a space, then into Hymns Burft forth, and in Celestial measures mov'd 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 secure Ventures his filial Virtue, though untry'd, Against what e'er may tempt, what e'er feduce, Allure, or terrifie, or undermine,
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 some days Lodg'd in Bethabara where John baptiz'd, Mufing and much revolving in his breast, 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 converse 190 With folitude, till far from track of men, Thought following though:, and ftep by step led on, He entred now the bordering defart wild, And with dark fhades and rocks environ'd round, His holy meditation thus purfu'd.
O what a multitude of thoughts at once Awaken'd in me fwarm, while I confider
What from within I feel my self, and hear, What from without comes often to my ears, Ill forting with my present ftare compar❜d. When I was yet a Child, no childish play To me was pleasing, all my mind was: fet Serious to learn and know, and thence to do What might be publick good; my self I thought Born to that end, born to promote all truth, 205 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 ere yet my age Had measur'd twice fix years, at our great Feaft 210 I went into the Temple, there to hear The Teachers of our Law, and to propofe What might improve my knowledge or their own; And was admir'd by all, yet this not all To which my Spirit aspir'd, victorious deeds Flam'd in my heart, heroic acts, one while To refcue Ifrael from the Raman Yoke, Then to fubdue and quel o'er all the earth Brute violence and proud Tyrannick pow'r, Till truth were freed, and equity reftor'd: Yet held it more humane, more heav'nly, first By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make perfwafion do the work of fears At least to try, and teach the erring Soul Not wilfully mif-doing, but unaware Mif-led; the ftubborn only to destroy.
These growing thoughts my Mother foon perceiving
By words at times caft forth inly rejoyc❜d, And said to me apart, High are thy thoughts O Son, but nourish them and let thèm foar To what heighth facred virtué and true worth Can raise them, though above example high; By matchlefs Deeds exprefs thy matchlefs Sire. For know, thou art no Son of mortal man, Though men efteem thee low of Parentage, 235 Thy Father is th' Eternal King who rules
All Heav'n 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 fhall be no end. 241 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 feen before in Heav'n appearing Guided the Wife Men thither from the Eaft, 250 To honour thee with Incenfe, Myrrh, and Gold, By whose 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 botn. Juft Simeon and Prophetick Anna, warn’d By Vifion found thee in the Temple, and fpake Before the Altar and the vested Prieft,
Like things of thee to all that prefent ftood: This having heard, ftraight I again revolv'd The Law and Prophets, searching what was writ Concerning the Meffiah, to our Scribes Known partly, and foon found of whom they fpake am; this chiefly, that my way must lie Through many a hard affay even to the death, Ere I the promis'd Kingdom can attain, 265 Or work Redemption for mankind, whose fins Full weight must be transferr'd upon my head: Yet neither thus difhearten'd or difmay'd, The time perfix'd I waited, when behold
The Baptift (of whofe birth I oft had heard, 270 Not knew by fight) now come, who was to come Before Meffiah and his way prepare.
I as all others to his Baptism came,
Which I believ'd was from above; but he
Straight knew me, and with loudeft voice proclaim'd Me him (for it was fhew'n him fo from Heav'n) 276 Me him whofe Harbinger he was; and first Refus'd on me his Baptifm to confer,
As much his greater, and was hardly won: But as I rofe out of the laving ftream, Heav'n open'd her eternal doors, from whence The Spirit defcended on me like a Dove, And last the fum of all, my Father's voice, Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his, Me his beloved Son, in whom alone
He was well pleas'd; by which I knew the time Now full, that I no more should live obfcure,
But openly begin, as best becomes The Authority which I deriv'd from Heav'n. And now by fome strong motion I am led Into this Wilderness, to what intent
I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know; For what concerns my knowledge God reveals. So fpake our Morning Star, then in his rise, And looking round on every fide beheld A pathlefs Defart, dusk with horrid fhades; The way he came not having mark'd, return Was difficult, by humane fteps untrod; And he still on was led, but with fuch thoughts Accompanied of things paft and to come Lodg'd in his breast, as well might recommend Such Solitude before choiceft Society. Full forty days he pafs'd, whether on hill Sometimes, anon in fhady vale, each night Under the covert of fome ancient Oak, Or Cedar, to defend him from the dew, Or harbour'd in one Cave, is not reveal'd; No: tafted humane food, nor hunger felt Till those days ended, hunger'd then at laft Among wild Beafts: they at his fight grew mild, Nor fleeping him nor waking harm'd, his walk 311 The fiery Serpent fled, and noxious Worm, The Lion and fierce Tiger glar'd aloof.
But now an aged man in Rural weeds,
Following, as feem'd, the quest of some stray Ewe,3 15 Or wither'd sticks to gather; which might ferve Against a Winters day when winds blow keen,
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