Unfold her Chrystal Doors, thence on his head A perfect Dove defcend, what e'er it meant, And out of Heav'n the Soveraign voice I hear This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas'd. 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 firft-begot we know, and fore have felt, When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; 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 fee our danger on the utmost edge Of hazard, which admits no long debate, But must with something fudden be oppos'd,
Not force, but well couch'd fraud, well woven fnares, E'er in the head of Nations he appear
Their King, their Leader, and Supream on Earth. I, when no other durft, fole undertook
The dismal expedition to find out
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 fuccefs. He ended, and his words impression left Of much amazement to th' infernal Crew, Distracted and furpriz'd with deep dismay At these sad tidings; but no time was then For long indulgence to their fears or grief: Unanimous they all commit the care And management of this vain 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
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 fufpected rais'd To end his Reign on Earth so 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 smiling spake. 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 sent thee to the Virgin pure In Galilee, that she should 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 fhould come
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 Job, Whose conftant perfeverance overcame What e'er his cruel malice could invent. He now shall know I can produce a Man B 4
Of female Seed, far abler to refift
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'er I send him forth To conquer Sin and Death the two grand foes, By Humiliation and strong Sufferance:
His weakness shall o'ercome Satanick ftrength And all the world, and mass of finful flesh; That all the Angels and Ætherial Powers, They now, and men hereafter may difcern, From what confummate virtue I have chofe This perfect Man, by merit call'd my Son, To earn Salvation for the Sons 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 Circling the Throne and Singing, while the hand Sung with the voice, and this the argument.) 7 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 seduce, 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 fome days Lodg'd in Bethabara where John baptiz'd, Mufing and much reyolving in his breast, How beft the mighty work he might begin Of Saviour to mankind, and which way Publish his God-like Office now mature,
One day forth walk'd alone, the Spirit leading; And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 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 fhades and rocks environ'd round, His holy meditation thus purfu'd.
O what a multitude of thoughts at once
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