320

Acceptance of large grace, from fervile fear

305 To filial, works of law to works of faith. And therefore fhall not Mofes, tho' of God Highly belor'd, being but che minister Of law, his people is to Canaan lead; ... ? But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call,'s, ; :310 His name and office bearing, who shall quell The adversary ferpent, and bring back Thro' the world's wilderness long wander'd man Safe to eternal Paradise of reft. Mean while they in their earthly Canaan,plac'd; 315 Long time fhall dwell and prospet; but when fins. National interrupt their public peace, Provoking God to raise them enemies ; From whom as oft he faves them penitent By judges first, then under kings; of whom The second, both for piety renown'd And puissant deeds, a promise fhall receive Irrevocable that his regal throne

1 For ever thall endure : the like thall fing All prophecy, that of the royal ftock

325 Of David (fo I same this king) fall rife A fon. the woman's feed to thee foretold, Foretold to Abraham, as in whom fball troft All nations, and to kings foretold, of kingsi The last, for of his reign fall be no end..ti 330 But first a long fucceffion must enfae ; ! 29.11 And his next fon, for 'wealth and wifdom fam'd, The clouded ark of God, till then in tents: Wand'ring, shall in a glorious temple infhrine. Such follow him as shall be regifter'd

335 Part good, part bad, of bad the longer scroll; Whofe foul idolatries, and other faults Heap'd to the popular fum, will fo incense God, as to leave them, and expose their land,

346

a

Their city', his temple, and his holy ark, 349
With all his facred things, a scorn and prey.
To that proud city, whose high walls thou saw'lt
Left in confufion, Babylon thence callid,
There in captivity he lets them dwell, in
The space of fer'nty years, then brings them back,
Rememb’ring mercy, and his covenant sworn
To David, Itablish'd as the days of heaven.
Return'd from Babylon by leave of kings
Their lords, whom God difpos'd, the house of God
They first re-edify, and for a while

350
In mean estate live moderate, till grown
In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;
But first among the priests dissention springs,
Men who attend the altar, and should most
Endeavour peace; their Arife pollution brings 355
Upon the temple itself; at last they seize
The fceptre, and regard not David's fons;
Then lose it to a franger, that the true
Anointed King Meffiah might be born
Basrid of his right; yet at his birth a ftar,
Unseen before in heav'n, proclaims him come,
And guides the eastern sages, who enquire
His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold;
His place of birth a folemn angel tells
To fimple lhepherds, keeping watch by night; 365
They gladly thither hafte, and by a quire
Of squadron'd angels hear his carol sung,
A virgin is his another, but his fire
The pow'r of the Most High; he shall afcend
The throne hereditary, and bound his reign 370
With earth's wide bounds, his glory with the heavens.

He ceas'd, discerning Adam with such joy Surcharg'd, as had like grief been dew'd in tears, Without the vent of words, which these he breath'd.

R6

360

O prophet of glad tidings, finisher

373 Of utmost hope ! now clear I understand What oft my steddiest thoughts have search'd in vain ; Why our great expectation should be callid, The seed of woman: Virgin mother, hails :. High in the love of Heaven ; 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 bruise Expect with mortal pain: fay where and when 384 Their fight, what stroke fall 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 Godhead, with more Atrength to ioil Thy enemy : nor lo is overcome

390 Satan, whole fall from heaven, a deadlier bruise, Disabled aot to give thee thy death's woued : Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, Not by destroying Satan, but his works. In thee and in thy feed : nor can this be,

395 But by fulfilling that which thou didit want, Obedience to the law of God; impos’d.: On penalty of death, and suffering death, The penalty to thy transgrefiion due, v 20 And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: 430 So only can High Justice reit appaid. The law of God exact he thall fulfil Both by obedience and by love, tho' love Alone fulfil the law, thy punishment He shall endure by comiog in the flesh

405 To a reproachful life and curfed death, Proclaiming life to all who shall believe In his redemption, and that his obedience lmputed becomes theirs by faizh, his merits

Το

420

To save them, not their own, tho' legal works. 4102
For this he shall live hated, be blafphem'd,
Seiz'd on by force; jadg'd, and to death condemn'd,
A shameful and accurs'd; nail'd to the cross; ';
By his own nation, flain for bringing life ;* *71:7
But to the cross he nails thy enemies,

415
The law that is against thee, and the fins
Of all mankind, with him there crucify'd,
Never to hurt them more who rightly traft
In this hvis fatisfaction: So he dies. :)
But soon revives; Death over him no power
Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light
Return, the stars of morn shall fee him rise
Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light
Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems;
His death for man, as many; as offer'd life:

425 Neglect not, and the benefit embrace. By faith not void of works. s This god-like aet. Annuls thy doom, the death thou should't have dy'd, In fin for ever lost from life; this act Shall bruise the head of Satan, crufh his strength, 430 Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms, And fix.far deeper in his head their kings, Than temp'ral death Thall bruise the victor's heel, Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal life.

435 Nor after resurrection shall he stay Longer on earth, than certain times to appear. To his disciples, men who in his life Still follow'd him ; to them thall leave in charge To teach all nations what of him they learn’d, 440 And his falvation, them who shall believer Baptizing in the profluent Atream, the sign Of walhing them from guilt of fin to life Pure, and in mind prepar'd; if fo befall,

For

For death, like that which the Redeemer dy'd. 445
All nations they fhall teach; for from that day
Not only to the fons of Abraham's loins
Salvation thall be preach'd, but to the fons
Of Abraham's faith wherever thro' the world;
So in his feed all nations thall be bless'd.

450
Then to the heav'n of heav'ns he shall ascend
With vi&tory, triumphing thro' the air
Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
The ferpent, prince of air, and drag in chains
Thro' all his realm, and there confounded leave;
Then enter into gtory, and resume

456 His feat at God's right hand, exalted high Above all names in heaven; and thence shall come, When this world's diffolution shall be ripe, With glory' and pow'r to judge both quick and dead; To judge th’ unfaithful dead, but to reward 465 His faithful, and receive them into bliss, Whether in heaven or earth; for then the earth Shall all be Paradise, far happier place Than this of Eden, and far happier days.

465 So spake th'archangel Michaël, then paus'd, As at the world's great period; and our fire, Replete with joy and wonder, thus reply'd, 2)

O goodness infinite, goodness immense ! That all this good of evil fhall produce, 470 And evil turn to good; more wonderful Than that which by creation first brought forth Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I fand Whether I should repent me now of fin By me done and occasion'd, or rejoice

475 Much more, that much more good thereof shall fpring, To God more glory, more good-will to men . From God, and over wrath grace shall aboond. 1 But say, if our Deliverer up to heaven

Molt