Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd Thus while Goo spake, ambrofial fragrance fill'd All Heav'n, and in the blessed spirit elect 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 Be question'd, and blasphem'd without defence. To whom the great Creator thus reply'd. My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, 170 All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all 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 175 Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand 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, This my long fsufferance, and my day of grace, 194 But 200 But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more; 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 |