Must reafcend, what will betide the few 480
His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd,
The enemies of truth? who then shall guide,
His people, who defend ? will they not deal
Worse with his followers than with bim they dealt?

Be sure they will, said th' angel; but from heav'a
He to his own a Comforter will send, :

486
The promise of the Father, who shall dwell
His Spi'rit within them, and the law of faith
Working thro' love, upon their hearts shall write, .,
To guide them in all truth, and also arm
With fpiritual armour, able to refilt
Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts,
What man can do against them, not afraid,
Though to the death, against such cruelties
With inward consolations recompens'd,

495
And oft supported so as thall amaze
Their proudest persecutors : for the Spirit,
Pour'd first on his apostles, whom he sends
To'evangelize the nations, then on all
Baptiz'd, shall them with wondrous gifts indue, sco
To speak all tongues, and do all miracles,
As did their Lord before them. Thus they win
Great numbers of each nation to receive
With joy the tidings brought from heav'n: at length,
Their ministry perform'd, and race well run, 505
Their doctrine and their itory writ: en left,
They die ; but in their room, as they forewarn,
Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves,
Who all the sacred mysteries of heaven
To their own vile advantages shall turn 510
Of lucre and ambition, and the truth
With fuperftitions and traditions taint,
Left only in those written records pure,
Though not but by the Spirit underfood,

Then

530

Then shall they seek to'avail themselves of names,
Places, and titles, and with thefe to join
Secular pow'r, though feigning still to act
By spiritual, to themselves appropriating
The Spirit of God; promis'd alike and given
To all believers; and from that pretence,

526
Spiritual laws by carnal pow'r shall force
On every conscience; Jaws which none shall find
Left them inrollid, or what the Spirit within
Shall on the heart ingrave. What will they then
But force the Spirit of grace itself, and bind

525 His confort liberty? wh.lt, but'unbuild His living temples, built by faith to stand, Their own faith, not another's? for on earth Who against faith and conscience can be heard Infallible? yet many will presume : Whence heavy perfecution shall arise On all who in the worship perfevere Of spi'rit and truth; the reft, far greater part, Will decm in outward rites and specious forms Religion fatisfy'd; truth Niall retire

575 Bertuck with fand'rous darts, and works of faith Rarely be found: so fhall the world go on, To good malignant, co bad men benign, Under her own weight groaning, till the day Appear of respiration to the jult,

540 And vengeance to the wicked, at return: Of him so lately promis'd to thy aid, The woman's seed, obfcurely then foretold, Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord, Läft in the clouds froin heav'n to be reveal'd 545 In glory of the Father, to dilfolve Satan with his perverted world, then raise From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd, New heav'ns, new earth, ages of endless date

Founded

560

Founded in right'ousness, and peace, and love, 550
To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss.

He ended; and thus Adam laft reply'd.
How soon bath thy prediction, feer bless'd,
Measur'd this transient world, the race of time,
Till time fand fix'd ? Beyond is all abyss, 555
Eternity, whore end no eye can reach,

1
Greatly instructed I fhall hence depart,
Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill
Of knowledge, what this veffel can contain ;
Beyond which was my folly to aspire.
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is beft,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him fole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good

565
Still overcoming evil, and by small
Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wife
By simply meek; that suff'ring, for truth's sake
Is fortitude to highest vi&tory,

570
And, to the faithful, death the gate of life;
Taught this by his example, whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blefs'd.

To whom thus also th' angel Jaft reply'd.
This having learn'd, thou hast attain’d the sum 575.
Of wisdom ; hope no high'er, though all the stars
Thou knew'st by name, and all th'ethereal pow'rs,
All fecrets of the deep, all Nature's works,
Or works of God in heav'n, air, eartlr, or sea,
And all the riches of this world enjoy'dit,
And all the rule, one empire; only add
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add faith,
Adų virtue, patience, temperance, add love,
By name to come. call'd-Charity, the soul.

OF

The great

Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath 585
To leave this Paradise, but fhalt poffefs
A Paradise within thee, happier far.
Let us descend now therefore from this top
Ot speculation ; for the hour precise
Exacts our parting hence; and fee the guards, 592
By me inicamp'd on yonder hill, expect
Their motion, at whole front à faming sword,
In signal of remove, 'waves fiercely round;
We inay no longer stay: go, waken Eve ;
Her also I with geotle dreams have calm'd

595 Portending good, and all ber fpirits compos'd To meek fubmiffion : thou at feafon fit Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard, Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, deliv'rance by her feed to come

600 (For by the woman's feed, on all mankind : That ye may live, 'which will be many days, Both in one faith unanimous though fad, With caufe for evils palt, yet much more cheer'd With meditation on the happy end.

6u5 He ended; and they both descend the hill; Descended, Adam to the bower where Eve Lay Oleeping ran before, but found her wakid; And thus with words not fad The him receiv'd.

Whence thou return't, and whither went'A, I know; For God is also in fleep, and dreams advise, 611 Which he hath fent propitious, some great good Prefaging, since with forrow' and heart's distress Wearied I fell asleep: bút now lead on ; lp me is no delay; with thee to go

615 Is to stay here ; without thee here to stay Is to go bence unwilling; thou to me Art all things under heav'n, all places thou, Who for my wilful erime art banilh'd bence.

This further consolation yet secure

630 I carry hence; though all by me is loft, Such favour I unworthy am vouchsaf'd, By me the promis'd seed shall all restore.

So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard Well pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh 625 Th’archangel stood, and from the other bill To their fix'd station, all in bright array, The cherubim descended ; on the ground Gliding meteorous, as ev'ning milt Ris’n from a river o'er the marilha glides, 630 And gathers ground fast at the lab'rer's hee), Homeward returning. High in front advanc'd, The brandish'd sword of God before them blaz'd Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat, And vapour as the Libyan air adult,

635 Began to parch that temp'rate clime; whereat In either hand the haft'ning angel caught Our ling’ring parents, and to th'eastern gate Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast To the subjected plain; then disappear'd. 640 They looking back all th'eastern fide beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy feat, Wav'd over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces throng'd and fiery arms : Some natural tears they dropt, but wip'd them foon ; The world was all before them, where to chuse 646

Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: They hand in hand, with wand'ring steps and flow, Through Eden cook their folitary way.