Without Mediator, whofe high Office now Mofes in figure bears, to introduce
One greater, of whofe day he shall foretel, And all the Prophets in their Age the times Of great Meffiah fhall fing. Thus Laws and Rites ~ Establish'd, fuch delight hath God in Men Obedient to his will, that he vouchfafes Among them to fet up his Tabernacle, The holy One with mortal Men to dwell: By his prefcript a Sanctuary is fram'd Of Cedar, overlaid with Gold, therein An Ark, and in the Ark his Testimony, The Records of his Cov'nant, over those A Mercy-feat of Gold between the wings Of two bright Cherubim, before him burn Seven Lamps as in a Zodiac representing The Heav'nly fires, over the Tent a Cloud Shall reft by Day, a fiery gleam by Night, Save when they journey, and at length they come, Conducted by his Angel to the Land
Promis'd to Abraham and his Seed: the reft 260 Were long to tell, how many Battels fought, How many Kings deftroy'd, and Kingdoms won, Or how the Sun fhall in mid-Heav'n ftand ftill A Day entire, and Night's due courfe adjourn, Man's voice commanding, Sun in Gibeon ftand, 265. And thou Moon in the vale of Aialon, Till Ifrael overcome; fo call the third. From Abraham, Son of Ifaac, and from him, His whole defcent, who thus fhall Canaan win.
Here Adam interpos'd. O fent from Heav'n, 276 Enlightner of my darkness, gracious things Thou hast reveal'd, those chiefly which concern Juft Abraham and his Seed: now first I find Mine eyes true op'ning, and my heart much eas'd, E'er while perplext with thoughts what would become Of me and all Mankind; but now I fee
His day, in whom all Nations will be bleft, Favour unmerited by me, who fought Forbidd'n knowledge by forbidd'n means. This yet I apprehend not, why to those
Among whom God will deign to dwell on Earth So many and fo various Laws are giv'n:
So many Laws argue fo many fins
Among them; how can God with fich refide?
To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that fin
Will reign among them, as of thee begot ;
And therefore was Law given to evince Their natural pravity, by ftirring up
Sin against Law to fight: that when they fee Law can difcover fin, but not remove,
Save by those shadowy expiations weak,
The blood of Bulls and Goats, they may conclude Some blood more precious must be paid for Man, Just for unjust, that in such righteousness To them by Faith imputed, they may find Juftification towards God, and peace Of Confcicnce, which the Law by Ceremonies Cannot appeafe, nor Man the moral part
Perform, and not performing cannot live.
So Law appears imperfect, and but giv'n With purpose to refign them in full time Up to a better Cov'nant, difciplin'd
From fhadowy Types to Truth, from Flesh to Spirit,. From impofition of ftrict Laws, to free Acceptance of large Grace, from servil fear To filial, works of Law to works of Faith. And therefore fhall not Mofes, though of God Highly belov'd, being but the Minifter
Of Law, his people into Canaan lead;
But Foua, whom the Gentiles Jefus cell, His Name and Office bearing, who shall quell The Adverfary Serpent, and bring back Through the World's wilderness long wander'd Man Safe to eternal Paradise of reft,
Mean while they in their earthly Canaan plac'd Long time shall dwell and profper, but when fins National interrupt their publick Peace,
Provoking God to raise them Enemies ;
From whom as oft he faves them penitent
By Judges fift, then under Kings; of whom 320 The second, both for piety renown'd
And puiffant deeds, a Promife fall receive Irrevocable, that his Regal Throne For ever fhall endure; the like shall fing All prophecy, That of the Royal Stock Of David (To name this King) fhall rife A Son, the Woman's Seed to thee foretold, Foretold to Abraham, as in whom fhall truft All Nations, and to Kings foretold, of Kings
The laft, for of his Reign fhall be no end.
But first a long fucceffion must enfue,
And his next Son for Wealth and Wisdom fam'd, The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents Wandring, shall in a glorious Temple enshrine. Such follow him, as fhall be register'd
Part good, part had, of bad the longer scrowle, Whofe foul Idolatries, and other faults Heap'd to the popular fum, will fo incenfe God, as to leave them, and expofe their Land, Their City, his Temple, and his holy Ark With all his facred things, a fcorn and prey
To that proud City, whofe high Walls thou faw'ft Left in confufion, Babylon thence call'd.
There in Captivity he lets them dwell
The space of feventy years, then brings them back, Remembring mercy, and his Cov'nant (worn
To David, ftablish'd as the days of Heav'n.. Return'd from Babylon by leave of Kings
Their Lords, whom God difpos'd, the house of God They first re-cdifie, and for a while
In mean eftate live moderate, till grown In wealth and multitude, factious they grow; But first among the Priests diffention springs, Men who attend the Altar, and fhould most Endeavour Peace: their ftrife pollution brings 355 Upon the Temple it felf: at laft they feife The Scepter, and regard not David's Sons. Then lofe it to a Stranger, that the true Anointed King Meffiah might be born
Barr'd of his right; yet at his Birth a Star Unseen before in Heav'n proclaims him come, And guides the Eaftern Sages, who enquire His place, to offer Incenfe, Myrrh and Gold; His place of Birth a folemn Angel tells To fimple Shepherds, keeping watch by night; 365 They gladly thither hafte, and by a Quire Of squadron'd Angels hear his Caroal fung. A Virgin is his Mother, but his Sire
The Power of the moft High; he shall afcend The Throne hereditary, and bound his Reign 370 With Earth's wide bounds,his Glory with the Heav'ns. He ceas'd, difcerning Adam with fuch joy. Surcharg'd, as had like grief been dew'd in tears Without the vent of Words, which these he breath'd.. O Prophet of glad tidings, finisher of utmost hope! now clear I understand What oft my ftedfaft thoughts have fearch'd in vain ;. Why our great expectation should be call'd The Seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, hail, High in the love of Heav'n, yet from my Loins 380 Thou shalt proceed, and from thy Womb the Son. Of God most High; fo God with Man unites. Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruife Expect with mortal pain: fay where and when 384. Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the Victor's heel.
To whom thus Michael. Dream not of their fight, As of a Duel, or the local wounds
Of head or heel: not therefore joins the Son Manhood to Ged-head, with more strength to fo
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