Page images
PDF
EPUB

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

325

The last, for of his reign shall be no end.

330

But first a long succession must ensue,

And his next son, for wealth and wisdom fam'd,
The clouded ark of God, till then in tents

Wand'ring, shall in a glorious temple' inshrine.

Such follow him as shall be register'd

335

Part good, part bad, of bad the longer scroll,

Whose foul idolatries, and other faults

Heap'd to the popular sum, will so incense
God, as to leave them, and expose their land,
Their city', his temple, and his holy ark
With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey

340

To that proud city, whose high walls thou saw'st
Left in confusion, Babylon thence call'd.

There in captivity he lets them dwell'

The space of sev❜nty years, then brings them back,
Rememb'ring mercy, and his covenant sworn
To David stablish'd as the days of Heaven.
Return'd from Babylon by leave of kings

Their lords, whom God dispos'd, the house of God
They first re-edify, and for a while

In mean estate live moderate, till grown

In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;

346

350

But first among the priests dissension springs,
Men who attend the altar, and should most
Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings
Upon the temple' itself: at last they seize
The sceptre, and regard not David's sons,
'Then lose it to a stranger, that the true
Anointed king Messiah 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 eastern sages, who inquire
His place, to offer incense, myrrh and gold,
His place of birth a solemn Angel tells
To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night;
They gladly thither haste, and by a quire

Of squadron'd Angels hear his carol sung,
A virgin is his mother, but his sire

355

360

365

The pow'r of the most High; he shall ascend

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:

375

O PROPHET of glad tidings, finisher

Of utmost hope! now clear I understand

What oft my steadiest thoughts have search'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
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

380

Expect with mortal pain: say 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 God-head, with more strength to foil
Thy enemy; nor so is overcome

Satan, whose fall from Heav'n, a deadlier bruise,
Disabled not to give thee thy death's wound:
Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure,
Not by destroying Satan, but his works
In thee and in thy seed: nor can this be,

390

395

But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,

Obedience to the law of God, impos'd

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

Both by obedience and by love, though love
Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment

405

He shall endure by coming in the flesh
To a reproachful life and cursed death,
Proclaiming life to all who shall believe
In his redemption, and that his obedience
Imputed becomes theirs by faith, his merits

To save them, not their own, though legal works. 410

For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd,

Seis'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemn'd

As ɛhameful and accurs'd, nail'd to the cross

By his own nation, slain for bringing life;

But to the cross he nails thy enemies,
The law that is against thee, and the sins
Of all mankind, with him there crucify'd,
Never to hurt them more who rightly trust
In this his satisfaction; 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 see 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

Neglect not, and the benefit embrace

By faith not void of works: this God-like act

415

420

425

Annuls thy doom, the death thou should'st have dy'd,
In sin for ever lost from life; this act

Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, 430
Defeating sin and death, his two main arms,
And fix far deeper in his head their stings

Than temp'ral death shall bruise the victor's heel,
Or theirs whom he redeems, a death-like sleep,
A gentle wafting to immortal lifeens

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 shall leave in charge
To teach all nations what of him they learn'd
And his salvation, them who shall believe
Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign
Of washing them from guilt of sin to life
Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall,

440

For death, like that which the Redeemer dy'd.
All nations they shall teach, for from that day
Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins
Salvation shall be preach'd, but to the sons

[ocr errors]

445

Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world;
So in his seed all nations shall be blest.

450

Then to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he shall ascend

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 seat 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,

456

With glory' and pow'r to judge both quick and dead, To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward

461

His faithful, and receive them into bliss,

Whether in Heav'n 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' Arch-Angel Michaël, then paus'd,

As at the world's great period; and our sire
Replete with joy and wonder thus reply'd:
O 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

470

« PreviousContinue »