Had not th' Almighty Father, where he sits, That his great purpose he might so fulfil, Upon his enemies, and to declare All pow'r on him transferr'd: whence to his Son EFFULGENCE of my glory, Son belov'd, And in whose hand what by decree I do, 675 680 685 690 Save what sin hath impair'd, which yet hath wrought Equal in their creation they were form'd, With mountains as with weapons arm'd, which makes Wild work in Heav'n, and dange'rous to the main. Two days are therefore past, the third is thine; For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus far 700 Have suffer'd, that the glory may be thine Of ending this great war, since none but Thou 705 By sacred unction, thy deserved right. Go then thou Mightiest in thy Father's might, 710 Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels That shake Heav'n's basis, bring forth all my war, My bow and thunder, my almighty arms Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh; Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out He said, and on his Son with rays direct 715 720 O FATHER, O Supreme of heav'nly thrones, First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou always seek'st 725 As is most just; this I my glory' account, My exaltation, and my whole delight, That thou in me well pleas'd, declar❜st thy will Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss. Sceptre and pow'r, thy giving, I assume, 730 And gladlier shall resign, when in the end 'Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee For ever, and in me all whom thou lov'st: But whom thou hat'st, I hate, and can put on Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, Arm'd with thy might, rid Heav'n of these rebell'd, Whom to obey is happiness entire. Then shall thy Saints unmix'd, and from th' impure Far separate, circling thy holy mount Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing, Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief. So said, he o'er his sceptre bowing rose From the right hand of glory where he sat ; And the third sacred morn began to shine, 735 740 745 Dawning through Heav'n: forth rush'd with whirl wind sound The chariot of paternal Deity, 750 Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoy'd By four Cherubic shapes; four faces each Had wondrous; as with stars their bodies all And wings were set with eyes, with eyes the wheels Of beryl, and careering fires between ; Over their heads a crystal firmament, Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure 756 Amber, and colours of the show'ry arch. 760 He in celestial panoply all arm'd Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, Of smoke and bickering flame and sparkles dire : Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heav'n; In heav'nly Spi'rits could such perverseness dwell? 765 770 775 780 785 Or wonders move th' obdurate to relent? 790 They harden'd more by what might most reclaim, Grieving to see his glory, at the sight Took envy; and aspiring to his height, Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud 795 Against God and Messiah, or to fall In universal ruin last; and now To final battle drew, disdaining flight, Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God To all his host on either hand thus spake. 800 STAND still in bright array, ye Saints, here stand Ye angels arm'd; this day from battle rest; 805 Nor multitude; stand only and behold 810 God's indignation on these Godless pour'd By me; not you but me they have despis'd, Yet envied; against me is all their rage, Because the Father, t' whom in Heav'n supreme Kingdom and pow'r and glory appertains, 815 Hath honour'd me according to his will. Therefore to me their doom he hath assign'd; That they may have their wish, to try with me |