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This Universe we have poffeft, and rul'd

In manner at our will th' affairs of Earth,
Since Adam and his facil Confort Eve
Loft Paradife deceiv'd by me, though fince
With dread attending when that fatal wound
Shall be inflicted by the Seed of Eve

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Upon my head; long the decrees of Heav'n
Delay, for longest time to him is short;

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And now too foon for us the circling hours
This dreaded time kave compast, wherein we

Muft bide the ftroak of that long threatn'd wound, At least if fo we can, and by the Head

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Broken be not intended all our power

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To be infring'd, our freedom and our being
In this fair Empire won of Earth and Air;
For this ill news I bring, the Woman's Seed
Deftin'd to this, is late of Woman born.
His Birth to our juft fear gave no small caufe,
But his growth now to’youth's full flower displaying
All virtue, grace, and wisdom to achieve
Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear.
Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim
His coming, is fent Harbinger, who all
Invites, and in the confecrated stream
Pretends to wash off fin, and fit them fo
Purifi'd to receive him pure, or rather

To do him honour as their King: all come,
And he himself among them was baptiz'd,
Not thence to be more pure, but to receive
The Teftimony of Heaven, that who he is
Thenceforth the Nations may not doubt; I faw
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The

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The Prophet do him reverence, on him rifing
Out of the Water, Heav'n above the Clouds
Unfold her Crystal Doors, thence on his head
A perfect Dove defcend, whate'er it meant,
And out of Heav'n the Sovereign voice I heard,
This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas'd.
His Mother then is mortal, but his Sire
He who obtains the Monarchy of Heaven;
And what will he not do t' advance his Son ?
His firft-begot we know, and fore have felt,
When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; 90
Who this is we must learn, for Man he feems
In all his lineaments, though in his face
The glimpses of his Father's glory fhine.
Ye fee our danger on the utmost edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate,

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But muft with fomething fudden be oppos'd,

Not force, but well couch'd fraud, well woven snares,

Ere in the head of Nations he appear

Their King, their Leader, and Supream on Earth.

I, when no other durft, fole undertook

The dismal expedition, to find out

And ruin Adam, and th'exploit perform'd

Successfully; a calmer Voyage now

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Will waft me; and the way found profp'rous once, Induces beft to hope of like fuccefs.

He ended, and his words impreffion left Of much amazement to th' infernal Crew, Diftracted and furpriz'd with deep dismay At these fad tidings; but no time was then For long indulgence to their fears or grief;

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770

Un

Unanimous they all commit the care

And management of this main Enterprize
To him their great Dictator, whose attempt
At first against mankind fo well had thriv'd
In Adam's overthrow, and led their march
From Hell's deep-vaulted Den to dwell in light,
Regents and Potentates, and Kings, yea Gods
Of many a pleasant Realm and Province wide.
So to the Coast of Jordan he directs
His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles,
Where he might likelieft find this new declar'd,
This Man of men, attefted Son of God,
Temptation and all guile on him to try;
So to fubvert whom he suspected rais'd

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To end his Reign on Earth so long enjoy'd: 125 But contrary, unweeting he fulfill'd

The purpos'd Counsel pre-ordain'd and fixt

Of the most High, who in full frequence bright
Of Angels, thus to Gabriel fmiling fpake.

Gabriel, this day by proof thou shalt behold, 130
Thou and all Angels converfant on Earth
With man or mens affairs, how I begin
To verify that folemn Message late,
On which I fent thee to the Virgin pure
In Galilee, that she should bear a Son

Great in Renown and call'd the Son of God;

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Then toldft her, doubting how these things could be
To her a Virgin, that on her should come
The Holy Ghoft, and the Power of the Highest
O'er-fhadow her: this Man born and now up grown,
To fhew him worthy of his Birth Divine

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And high Prediction, henceforth I expofe

To Satan; let him tempt and now affay
His utmost fubtilty, because he boasts

And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng 145
Of his Apoftafie; he might have learnt
Lefs overweening, fince he fail'd in Job,
Whose constant perfeverance overcame
Whate'er his cruel malice could invent.
He now fhall know I can produce a Man
Of female Seed, far abler to resist
All his follicitations, and at length

All his vaft force, and drive him back to Hell,
Winning by conqueft what the first man loft,
By fallacy furpriz❜d. But first I mean
To exercife him in the Wilderness,

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There he fhall first lay down the rudiments
Of his great warfare, ere I fend him forth

To conquer Sin and Death the two grand focs,
By Humiliation and ftrcng Sufferance
His weakness shall o'ercome Satanic strength
And all the world, and mafs of finful flesh;
That all the Angels and Ethereal Powers,
They now,
and men hereafter may difcern,
From what confummate virtue I have chofe
This perfect Man, by merit call'd my Son,
To earn Salvation for the Sons of men.

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So fpake th' Eternal Father, and all Heav'n Admiring flood a space, then into Hymns Burft forth, and in Celestial measures mov'd Circling the Throne and finging, while the hand Sung with the voice, and this the argument.

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Victory

Victory and Triumph to the Son of God
Now entering his great duel, not of Arms,
But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles.
The Father knows the Son; therefore fecure
Ventures his filial Virtue, though untry'd,
Against whate'er may tempt, whate'er seduce,
Allure, or terrifie, or undermine.

Be fruftrate all ye ftratagems of Hell,
And devilish machinations come to nought.

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So they in Heav'n their Odes and Vigils tun'd: Mean while the Son of God, who yet fome days Lodg'd in Bethabara where John baptiz'd,

Mufing and much revolving in his breast,
How beft the mighty work he might begin
Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first
Publish his God-like Office now mature,

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One day forth walk'd alone, the Spirit leading,
And his deep thoughts, the better to converfe 190
With folitude, till far from track of Men,
Thought following thought, and step by step led on,
He entred now the bordering defart wild,
And with dark fhades and rocks environ'd round,
His holy meditation thus purfu'd.

O what a multitude of thoughts at once
Awaken'd in me fwarm, while I confider
What from within I feel my felf, and hear
What from without comes often to my ears,
Ill forting with my present state compar'd.
When I was yet a Child no childish play
To me was pleasing, all my mind was fet
Serious to learn and know, and thence to do

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