"Of conscience; which the law, by ceremonies, "From shadowy types to truth-from flesh to spirit "But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call; "His name and office bearing, who shall quell "The adversary-serpent, and bring back, "Through the world's wilderness long-wandered man "Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. "Meanwhile they, in their earthly Canaan placed, 'Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins "National interrupt their public peace, 66 Provoking God to raise them enemies; "From whom as oft he saves them penitent, "By judges first, then under kings; of whom "The second, both for piety renowned "And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive "Irrevocable, that his regal throne "For ever shall endure; the like shall sing "All prophecy, that of the royal stock "Of David (so I name this king) shall rise "A son-the Woman's seed to thee foretold"Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust "All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings "The last; for of his reign shall be no end. "But first, a long succession must ensue : "And his next son, for wealth and wisdom famed, "The clouded ark of God, till then in tents 66 Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. "Such follow him as shall be registered "Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll; "Whose foul idolatries, and other faults "To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawst "There in captivity he lets them dwell "The space of seventy years; then brings them back, Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn 66 "To David, stablished as the days of Heaven. "Their lords, whom God disposed, the House of God "A virgin is his mother, but his sire "The Power of the Most High: he shall ascend "The throne hereditary, and bound his reign 340 350. 360 370 "With Earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens." He ceased; discerning Adam with such joy Surcharged, as had, like grief, been dewed in tears, Without the vent of words; which these he breathed: "O prophet of glad tidings, finisher "Of utmost hope! now clear I understand 66 66 (What oft my steadiest thoughts have searched in vain), Why our great Expectation should be called "The seed of Woman. Virgin mother, hail! "High in the love of Heaven! Yet from my loins 380 "Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son "Of God Most High; so God with man unites. "Needs must the serpent now his capital bruise "Expect with mortal pain: say, where and when "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 66 Thy enemy; nor so is overcome "Satan, whose fall from Heaven (a deadlier bruise) 390 "On penalty of death; and suffering death- "The penalty to thy transgression due, "And due to theirs which out of thine will grow : 400 "So only can high justice rest appaid. "The law of God exact he shall fulfil "Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment "In his redemption; and that this obedience, 66 "Both by obedience, and by love, though love Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits "To save them, not their own (though legal) works. 410 "For this he shall live hated; be blasphemed; "Seized on by force; judged, and to death condemned"A shameful and accursed! nailed to the cross 66 "But to the cross he nails thy enemies- By his own nation; slain for bringing life: "The law that is against thee, and the sins Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems, "His death for man-as many as offered life 66 Neglect not, and the benefit embrace "By faith not void of works. This godlike act "Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have died, "Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, "Nor after resurrection shall he stay. Longer on Earth, than certain times to appear “To his disciples, men who in his life "Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge "To teach all nations what of him they learned "And his salvation, them who shall believe Baptizing in the profluent stream-the sign “With victory, triúmphing through the air "The Serpent, Prince of air, and drag in chains "Through all his realm, and there confounded leave; 420 430 440 450 "Then enter into glory, and resume "His seat at God's right hand, exalted high "Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come • When this world's dissolution shall be ripe, "With glory and power to judge both quick and dead-- 460 "To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward "His faithful, and receive them into bliss, So spake the Archangel Michaël; then paused, Ó, Goodness infinite, Goodness immense! "That all this good of evil shall produce, "And evil turn to good; more wonderful "Than that, which by creation first brought forth 'Light out of Darkness! Full of doubt I stand, "Whether I should repent me now of sin 66 "By me done, and occasioned; or rejoice 470 "Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring"To God more glory-more good-will to men "From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. "But say, if our Deliverer up to Heaven 480 "The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide "His people, who defend? Will they not deal "Worse with his followers than with him they dealt?" "Be sure they will," said the Angel; "but from Heaven "He to his own a Comforter will send, "The promise of the Father, who shall dwell "His Spirit within them; and the law of faith, "Working through love, upon their hearts shall write, "With spiritual armour, able to resist 66 Though to the death: against such cruelties "With inward consolations recompensed, 490 |