Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd
Their freedom, they themselves ordain'd their fall.
The first fort by their own suggestion fell,
Self-tempted, felf-deprav'd: man falls, deceiv'd 130
By th' other first: man therefore shall find grace,
The other none; in mercy and justice both,
Through Heav'n and earth, so shall my glory excel;
But mercy first and last shall brightest shine.

Thus while Goo spake, ambrofial fragrance fill'd

All Heav'n, and in the blessed spirit elect
Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd.
Beyond compare the Son of God was seen
Most glorious; in him all his FATHER shone
Substantially express'd; and in his face
Divine compaffion visibly appear'd,
Love without end, and without measure grace;
Which uttering, thus he to his FATHER spake.

136

140

150

O FATHER, gracious was that word which clos'd Thy sov'reign sentence, that man should find grace; For which both Heav'n and earth shall high extol 146 Thy praises, with th' innumerable found Of hymns and facred songs, wherewith thy throne Encompass'd shall refound thee ever blest. For should man finally be lost, should man Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son, Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd With his own folly? that be from thee far, That far, be from thee, FATHER, who art judge Of all things made, and judgeft only right. Or shall the adversary thus obtain His end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfil His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, Or proud return though to his heavier doom, Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell Draw after him the whole race of mankind, By him corrupted? or wilt thou thy felf

155

160

Abolish

Abolish thy creation, and unmake
For him, what for thy glory thou hast made?
So should thy goodness and thy greatness both 165

Be question'd, and blasphem'd without defence.

To whom the great Creator thus reply'd.
O SON, in whom my soul hath chief delight,
SON of my bosom, SON who art alone

My word, my wisdom, and effectual might,

170

All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all
As my eternal purpose hath decreed.

Man shall not quite be loft, but sav'd who will,

Yet not of will in him, but grace in me

Freely vouchsaf'd: once more I will renew
His lapsed pow'rs, though forfeit, and inthrall'd
By fin to foul exorbitant defires :

175

Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand
On even ground against his mortal foe:
By me upheld! that he may know how frail
His fall'n condition is, and to me owe
All his deliv'rance, and to none but me.
Some I have chofen of peculiar grace
Elect above the rest: so is my will:

180

The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd 185 Their finful state, and to appease betimes Th'incensed Deity, while offer'd grace

190

Invites: for I will clear their senses dark,
What may fuffice, and soften stony hearts
To pray, repent, and bring obedience due.
To pray'r, repentance, and obedience due,
Though but endeavour'd with fincere intent,
Mine ear shall not be flow, mine eye not shut.
And I will place within them as a guide
My umpire CONSCIENCE; whom if they will hear,
Light after light well us'd they shall attain,
And to the end perfifting, safe arrive.

This my long fsufferance, and my day of grace,
They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste;

194

But

200

[ocr errors]

But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more;
That they may stumble on, and deeper fall:
And none but such from mercy I exclude.
But yet all is not done: Man disobeying,
Disloyal breaks his fealty, and sins
Against the high fupremacy of Heav'n,
Affecting God-head, and so lofing all,
To expiate his treason hath nought left;
But to deftruction sacred and devote,
He with his whole posterity must die,
Die he or Juftice muft; unless for him
Some other able, and as willing, pay
The rigid fatisfaction, death for death.
Say heav'nly Pow'rs, where shall we find such love?
Which of ye will be mortal to redeem

210

Man's mortal crime: and just, th' unjust to save? 215 Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear?

220

He ask'd, but all the heav'nly quire stood mute, And filence was in Heav'n: on man's behalf Patron or interceffor none appear'd, Much less that durst upon his own head draw The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. And now without redemption all mankind Must have been loft, adjudg'd to death and Hell By doom severe, had not the Son of GOD, In whom the fulness dwells of love divine,

His dearest mediation thus renew'd.

225

way,

230

FATHER, thy word is past, man shall find grace: And shall grace not find means, that finds her The speediest of thy winged messengers, To visit all thy creatures, and to all Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unfought? Happy for man, so coming! he her aid Can never feek, (once dead in fins, and loft) Attonement for himself, or offering meet, Indebted, and undone, hath none to bring.

235 Behold

« ZurückWeiter »