Baptizing in the profluent stream, the fign
Of washing them from guilt of fin to life
Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if fo befall,
For death, like that which the Redeemer dy'd.
All nations they shall teach; for from that day
Not only to the fons of Abraham's loins
Salvation shall be preach'd, but to the fons
Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world;
So in his feed all nations fhall be bleft.
Then to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he fhall afcend
With victory, triumphing through the air
Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains
Through all his realm, and there confounded leave;
Then enter into glory, and resume
His feat at God's right hand, exalted high
Above all names in Heav'n; and thence shall come, When this world's dissolution shall be ripe,
With glory' and pow'r to judge both quick and dead,
To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward
His faithful, and receive them into bliss,
Whether in Heav'n or Earth, for then the Earth
Shall all be Paradife, far happier place
¡Than this of Eden, and far happier days.
So fpake th' Arch-Angel Michaël, then paus'd, As at the world's great period; and our fire Replete with joy and wonder thus reply'd.
O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense ! That all this good of evil fhall 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 fin
By me done and occafion'd, or rejoice
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 fay, if our Deliverer up to Heaven
Muft reafcend, what will betide the few
His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd,
The enemies of truth? who then shall guide
His people, who defend ? will they not deal
Worfe with his followers than with him they dealt?
Be fure they will, faid th' Angel; but from Heaven
He to his own a Comforter will fend,
The promise of the Father, who shall dwell
His Spirit within them, and the law of faith
Working through love, upon their hearts fhall write,
To guide them in all truth, and also arm
With spiritual armour, able to resist
Satan's affaults, and quench his fiery darts,
What man can do against them, not afraid,
Though to the death, against such cruelties
With inward confolations recompens'd,
And oft fupported so as shall amaze
Their proudest perfecutors: for the Spirit
Pour'd firft on his Apoftles, whom he fends
To evangelize the nations, then on all
Baptiz'd, fhall them with wondrous gifts indue
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 miniftry perform'd, and race well run,
Their doctrin and their story written left,
They die; but in their room, as they forewarn,
Wolves fhall fucceed for teachers, grievous wolves,
Who all the facred myfteries of Heaven
To their own vile advantages fhall turn
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 understood.
Then shall they feck to' avail themselves of names, 515
Places, and titles, and with these to join
Secular pow'r; though feigning ftill to act
By fpiritual, to themselves appropriating
The Spirit of God, promis'd alike and given
To all believers; and from that pretence,
Spiritual laws by carnal pow'r fhall force
On every confcience; laws which none shall find
Left them inroll'd, or what the Spirit within
Shall on the heart ingrave. What will they then
But force the Spi'rit of grace itself, and bind
His confort liberty? what, but unbuild
His living temples, built by faith to stand,
Their own faith, not another's? for on earth
Who against faith and confcience can be heard
Infallible? yet many will prefume:
Whence heavy perfecution fhall arise
On all who in the worship perfevere
Of fpi'rit and truth; the reft, far greater part,
Will deem in outward rites and fpecious forms
Religion fatisfied; truth fhall retire
Beftuck with fland'rous darts, and works of faith
Rarely be found: fo fhall the world go on,
To good malignant, to bad men benign,
Under her own weight groaning, till the day
Appear of refpiration to the just,
In glory of the Father, to diffolve
Satan with his perverted world, then raise
From the conflagrant mafs, purg'd and refin'd,
New Heav'ns, new Earth, ages of endless date
Founded in righteoufnefs and peace and love,
To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal blifs.
He ended; and thus Adam laft reply'd.
How foon hath thy prediction, Seer blest,
Meafur'd this tranfient world, the race of time,
Till time stand fix'd? beyond is all abyss,
Eternity, whofe end no eye can reach.
Greatly inftructed I shall hence depart,
Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill
Of knowledge, what this veffel can contain ;
Beyond which was my folly to afpire.
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is beft,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his prefence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him fole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good
Still overcoming evil, and by fmall
Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak
Subverting worldly ftrong, and worldly wife
By fimply meek; that fuffering for truth's fake
Is fortitude to highest victory,
And to the faithful death the gate of life;
Taught this by his example whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest.
To whom thus also th' Angel last reply'd.
This having learn'd, thou haft attain'd the fum
Of wisdom; hope no high'er, though all the stars
Thou knew'ft 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, earth, or fea,
And all the riches of this world enjoy'dft,
And all the rule, one empire; only add
Deeds to thy knowledge anfwerable, add faith,
Add virtue, patience, temperance, add love,
By name to come call'd charity, the foul
Of all the reft: then wilt thou not be loath
To leave this Paradise, but shalt poffefs
A Paradife within thee, happier far.
Let us defcend now therefore from this top
Of fpeculation; for the hour precise
Exacts our parting hence; and fee the guards,
By me incamp'd on yonder hill, expect
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