BOOK I. THE ARGUMENT. The subject proposed. Invocation of the Holy Spirit. The poem opens with John baptizing at the river Jordan. Jesus coming there is baptized, and is attested by the descent of the Holy Ghost, and by a voice from heaven, to be the Son of Ga Satan, who is present, upon this immediately flies un into the regions of the air; where, summoning his infernal council, he acquaints them with his apprehensions that Jesus is that seed of the woman destined to destroy all their power, and points out to them the immediate necessity of bringing the matter to proof, and of attempting, by snares and fraud, to counteract and defeat the person from whoin they have so much to dread. This office he offers himself to undertake; and, his offer being accepted, sets out on his enterprise. In the meantime God, in the assembly of holy angels, declares that he has given up his Son to be temptei by Satan; but foretells that the tempter shall be completely defeated by him: upon which the angels sing a hymn of tri umph. Jesus is led up by the Spirit into the wilderness, while he is meditating on the commencement of his great ffice of Saviour of mankind. Pursuing his meditation he parrates, in a soliloquy, what divine and philanthrope impulses he had felt from his early youth, and how his mother Marv, on perceiving these dispositions in him, had acquainted him with the circumstances of his birth, and informed him that he was no less a person than the Son of God; to which he adds what his own vn inquiries and reflections had supplied in confirmation of this great truth, and particular. ly dwells on the recent attestation of it at the river Jordan. Our Lord passes forty days, fasting, in the wilderness: where the wild beasts become mild and harmless in his presence. Satan now appears under the form of an old pensant; and enters into disccarse with our Lord, wondering what could have brought han alone into so dangerous a place, and at the same time professing to recognize him for he person lately acknowledged by John, at the river Jordan, to be the Son of God. Jesus briefly replies. Satan rejoins with a description of the difficulty of supporting life in the wilderness; and entreats Jesus, if he be really the Son of God, to manifest his divine power by changing some of the stones into bread. Jesus reproves him, and at the same time tells him that he knows who he is. Satar, instantly evob a to sasusan ni bus b'neqo nevas avows himself, and offers an artful apology for himseif and his conduct. Our blessed Lord severely reprimands him, and refutes every part of his justification. Satan, with much semblance of humility, still endeavours to justify himself; and professing his admiration of Jesus, and his regard for virtue, requests to be permitted, at a future time, to hear more of his conversation; but is answered, that this must be as he shall find permission from above. Satan then dis appears, and the book closes with a short description night coming on in the desert. I, wно erewhile the happy garden sung Thou Spirit, who ledd'st this glorious eremite 1 Anto the desert, his victorious field, bounds, With prosperous wing full summ'd, to tell of deeds Now had the great proclaimer, with a voice " 1 |