269:00,000@@@@@| <Selections from printed text of Cantos I-V>
269:00,000['  ]| <MEDITATIONS> 
269:00,000['  ]| <ON THE> 
269:00,000['  ]| <CREATION,> 
269:00,000['  ]| <As recorded in the First> 
269:00,000['  ]| <Chapter of \Genesis\.> 
269:01,001['  ]| MY ravisht soul, a pious ardour fires, 
269:01,002['  ]| To sing those mystick wonders it admires, 
269:01,003['  ]| Contemplating the Rise of every thing, 
269:01,004['  ]| That, with Times birth, flow'd from th' eternal spring:  
269:01,005['  ]| And the no less stupendious Providence 
269:01,006['  ]| By which discording Natures ever since 
269:01,007['  ]| Have kept up universal Harmonie; 
269:01,008['  ]| While on one joynt obedience all agree, 
269:01,009['  ]| Performing that to which they were design'd 
269:01,010['  ]| With ready inclination; But Mankind 
269:01,011['  ]| Alone rebels against his Makers will, 
269:01,012['  ]| Which tho' opposing he must yet fulfill.  
269:01,013['  ]| And so that wise Power, who each crooked stream 
269:01,014['  ]| Most rightly guides, becomes the glorious theam 
269:01,015['  ]| Of endless admiration, while we see, 
269:01,016['  ]| Whatever mortals vain endeavours be, 
269:01,017['  ]| They must be broken who with Power contend, 
269:01,018['  ]| And cannot frustrate their Creators End, 
269:01,019['  ]| Whose Wisdom, Goodness, Might and Glory shines 
269:01,020['  ]| In guiding mens unto his own designs.  
269:01,021['  ]| In these outgoings would I sing his praise, 
269:01,022['  ]| But my weak sense with the too glorious rays 
269:01,023['  ]| Is struck with such confusion, that I find 
269:01,024['  ]| Only the worlds first Chaos in my mind, 
269:01,025['  ]| Where Light and Beauty lie wrapt up in seed, 
269:01,026['  ]| And cannot be from the dark prison freed, 
269:01,027['  ]| Except that Power, by whom the world was made, 
269:01,028['  ]| My soul in her imperfect strugglings aid, 
269:01,029['  ]| Her rude conceptions into forms dispose, 
269:01,030['  ]| And words impart, which may those forms disclose.  
269:01,031['  ]| O thou eternal spring of glory, whence 
269:01,032['  ]| All other streams derive their excellence, 
269:01,033['  ]| From whose Love issues every good desire, 
269:01,034['  ]| Quicken my dull earth with celestial fire, 
269:01,035['  ]| And let the sacred theam that is my choice, 
269:01,036['  ]| Give utterance and musick to my voice, 
269:01,037['  ]| Singing the works by which thou art reveal'd.  
269:01,038['  ]| What dark Eternity hath kept conceal'd 
269:01,039['  ]| From mortals apprehensions, what hath been 
269:01,040['  ]| Before the race of Time did first begin, 
269:01,041['  ]| It were presumptuous folly to enquire.  
269:01,042['  ]| Let not my thoughts beyond their bound aspire, 
269:01,043['  ]| Time limits mortals, and Time had its birth, 
269:01,044['  ]| In whose \Beginning God made Heaven and Earth\.  
269:01,045['  ]| God, the great \Elohim\, to say no more, 
269:01,046['  ]| Whose sacred Name we rather must adore 
269:01,047['  ]| Than venture to explain; for He alone 
269:01,048['  ]| Dwells in himself, and to himself is known.  
269:01,049['  ]| And so, even that by which we have our sight, 
269:01,050['  ]| His covering is, \He clothes himself with light\.  
269:01,051['  ]| Easier we may the winds in prison shut, 
269:01,052['  ]| The whole vast Ocean in a nut-shell put, 
269:01,053['  ]| The Mountains in a little ballance weigh, 
269:01,054['  ]| And with a Bullrush plumm the deepest Sea, 
269:01,055['  ]| Than stretch frail humane thought unto the height 
269:01,056['  ]| Of the great God, Immense, and Infinite, 
269:01,057['  ]| Containing all things in himself alone, 
269:01,058['  ]| Being at once in all, contain'd in none.  
269:01,059['  ]| Yet as a hidden spring appears in streams, 
269:01,060['  ]| The Sun is seen in its reflected beams, 
269:01,061['  ]| Whose high embodied Glory is too bright, 
269:01,062['  ]| Too strong an object for weak mortal sight; 
269:01,063['  ]| So in Gods visible productions, we 
269:01,064['  ]| What is invisible, in some sort see; 
269:01,065['  ]| While we considering each created thing, 
269:01,066['  ]| Are led up to an uncreated spring, 
269:01,067['  ]| And by gradations of successive Time, 
269:01,068['  ]| At last unto Eternity do climb, 
269:01,069['  ]| As we in tracks of second causes tread 
269:01,070['  ]| Unto the first uncaused cause are led; 
269:01,071['  ]| And know, while we perpetual motion see 
269:01,072['  ]| There must a first self-moving Power be, 
269:01,073['  ]| To whom all the inferiour motions tend, 
269:01,074['  ]| In whom they are begun, and where they end.  
269:01,075['  ]| This first eternal Cause, th' Original 
269:01,076['  ]| Of Being, Life, and Motion, GOD we call; 
269:01,077['  ]| In whom all Wisdome, Goodness, Glory, Might, 
269:01,078['  ]| Whatever can himself or us delight 
269:01,079['  ]| Unite, centring in his Perfection, 
269:01,080['  ]| Whose Nature can admit but only One; 
269:01,081['  ]| Divided Soveraignty makes neither great, 
269:01,082['  ]| Wanting what's shar'd to make the summ compleat.  
269:01,083['  ]| And yet this soveraign sacred Unitie 
269:01,084['  ]| Is not alone, for in this one are three, 
269:01,085['  ]| Distinguisht, not divided, so that what 
269:01,086['  ]| One person is, the other is not that; 
269:01,087['  ]| Yet all the three, are but one God most High, 
269:01,088['  ]| One uncompounded, pure Divinity, 
269:01,089['  ]| Wherein subsist so, the Mysterious three, 
269:01,090['  ]| That they in Power and Glory equal be; 
269:01,091['  ]| Each doth himself, and all the rest possess 
269:01,092['  ]| In undisturbed joy and blessedness.  
269:01,093['  ]| There's no Inferiour, nor no Later there, 
269:01,094['  ]| All Coeternal, all Coequal, are.  
269:01,095['  ]| And yet this Parity Order admits, 
269:01,096['  ]| The Father first, eternally begets, 
269:01,097['  ]| Within himself, his Son, substantial Word 
269:01,098['  ]| And Wisdom, as his second, and their third 
269:01,099['  ]| The ever blessed spirit is, which doth 
269:01,100['  ]| Alike eternally proceed from both.  
269:01,101['  ]| These three, distinctly thus, in one Divine, 
269:01,102['  ]| Pure, Perfect, Self-supplying Essence shine; 
269:01,103['  ]| And all cooperate in all works done 
269:01,104['  ]| Exteriourly, yet so, as every one, 
269:01,105['  ]| In a peculiar manner suited to 
269:01,106['  ]| His Person, doth the common action do.  
269:01,107['  ]| Herein the Father is the Principal, 
269:01,108['  ]| Whose sacred counsels are th' Original 
269:01,109['  ]| Of every Act; produced by the Son, 
269:01,110['  ]| By' the Spirit wrought up to perfection.  
269:01,111['  ]| I'the Creation thus, by' the Fathers wise decree, 
269:01,112['  ]| Such things should in such time, and order be, 
269:01,113['  ]| The first foundation of the world was laid.  
269:01,114['  ]| The Fabrique, by th' Eternal Word, was made 
269:01,115['  ]| Not as th' instrument, but joynt actor, who 
269:01,116['  ]| Joy'd to fulfill the counsels which he knew.  
269:01,117['  ]| By the concurrent Spirit all parts were 
269:01,118['  ]| Fitly dispos'd distinguisht, rendred fair, 
269:01,119['  ]| In such harmonious and wise order set, 
269:01,120['  ]| As universal Beauty did compleat.  
269:01,121['  ]| This most mysterious Triple Unitie, 
269:01,122['  ]| In Essence One, and in subsistence Three.  
269:01,123['  ]| Was that great \Elohim\, who first design'd, 
269:01,124['  ]| Then made the Worlds, that Angels and Mankind 
269:01,125['  ]| Him in his rich out-goings might adore, 
269:01,126['  ]| And celebrate his praise for evermore; 
269:01,127['  ]| Who from Eternity himself supplied, 
269:01,128['  ]| And had no need of any thing beside, 
269:01,129['  ]| Nor any other cause that did him move 
269:01,130['  ]| To make a World, but his extensive Love, 
269:01,131['  ]| It self delighting to communicate; 
269:01,132['  ]| Its Glory in the creatures to dilate, 
269:01,133['  ]| While they are led by their own excellence 
269:01,134['  ]| T' admire the first, pure, high Intelligence, 
269:01,135['  ]| By all the Powers and vertues which they have, 
269:01,136['  ]| To that Omnipotence who those Powers gave; 
269:01,137['  ]| By all their glories and their joy and bliss; 
269:01,138['  ]| Who is the Fountain of all joy and bliss; 
269:01,139['  ]| By all their wants and imbecillities, 
269:01,140['  ]| To the full magazine of rich supplies, 
269:01,141['  ]| Where Power, Love, Justice, and Mercy shine 
269:01,142['  ]| In their still fixed heights, and ne're decline.  
269:01,143['  ]| No streams can shrink the self-supplying spring, 
269:01,144['  ]| No retributions can more fulness bring 
269:01,145['  ]| To the eternal fountain, which doth run 
269:01,146['  ]| In sacred circles, ends where it begun, 
269:01,147['  ]| And thence with inexhausted life and force 
269:01,148['  ]| Begins again a new, yet the same course 
269:01,149['  ]| It instituted in Times infant birth, 
269:01,150['  ]| When the Creator first made \Heaven and Earth\.  
269:01,151['  ]| Time though it all things into motion bring 
269:01,152['  ]| Is not it self any substantial thing, 
269:01,153['  ]| But only Motions measure; As a twin 
269:01,154['  ]| Born with it; and they both at once begin 
269:01,155['  ]| With the existence of the rolling sphere, 
269:01,156['  ]| Before which neither time nor motion were.  
269:01,157['  ]| Time being a still continued number, made 
269:01,158['  ]| By the vicissitude of Light and Shade, 
269:01,159['  ]| By the Moons growth, and by her waxing old, 
269:01,160['  ]| By the successive Reign of heat and cold, 
269:01,161['  ]| Thus leading back all ages to the womb 
269:01,162['  ]| Of vast Eternity from whence they come, 
269:01,163['  ]| And bringing new successions forth, until 
269:01,164['  ]| Heaven its last revolutions shall fulfil, 
269:01,165['  ]| And all things unto their first state restore, 
269:01,166['  ]| When Motion ceasing, Time shall be no more; 
269:01,167['  ]| But with the visible Heavens shall expire 
269:01,168['  ]| While they consume in the worlds funeral fire; 
269:01,169['  ]| Th' invisible Heavens being still the same, 
269:01,170['  ]| Shall not be toucht by the devouring flame.  
269:01,171['  ]| Treating of which, let's wave Platonick dreams 
269:01,172['  ]| Of Worlds made in Idea, fitter theams 
269:01,173['  ]| For Poets fancies, than the reverent view 
269:01,174['  ]| Of Contemplation, fixt on what is true 
269:01,175['  ]| And only certain, kept upon record 
269:01,176['  ]| In the Creators own revealed word, 
269:01,177['  ]| Which when it taught us how our world was made, 
269:01,178['  ]| Wrapt up th' invisible in mystique shade.  
269:01,179['  ]| Yet through those clouds we see, God did create 
269:01,180['  ]| A place his presence doth irradiate.  
269:01,181['  ]| Where he doth in his brightest lustre shine; 
269:01,182['  ]| Yet doth not his own Heaven, him confine:  
269:01,183['  ]| Although the Paradise of the fair world above, 
269:01,184['  ]| Each where perfum'd with sweet respiring Love, 
269:01,185['  ]| Refresht with Pleasures never shrinking streams, 
269:01,186['  ]| Illustrated with Lights unclouded beams, 
269:01,187['  ]| The happy land of peace and endless Rest 
269:01,188['  ]| Which doth both soul and sense with full joys feast, 
269:01,189['  ]| Feasts that extinguish not the appetite 
269:01,190['  ]| Which is renew'd to heighten the delight.  
269:01,191['  ]| Here stands the Tree of life, deckt with fair fruit, 
269:01,192['  ]| Whose leaves health to the nations contribute.  
269:01,193['  ]| The spreading, true celestial Vine 
269:01,194['  ]| Where fruitful grafts and noble clusters shine.  
269:01,195['  ]| Here Majesty and Grace together meet; 
269:01,196['  ]| The Grace is glorious, and the Glory sweet.  
269:01,197['  ]| Here is the Throne of th' universal King 
269:01,198['  ]| To which the suppliant world addresses bring.  
269:01,199['  ]| Here next him doth his son in triumph sit, 
269:01,200['  ]| Waiting till all his foes lie at his feet.  
269:01,201['  ]| Here is the Temple of his Holiness, 
269:01,202['  ]| The Sanctuary for all sad distress.  
269:01,203['  ]| Here is the Saints most sure inheritance 
269:01,204['  ]| To which they all their thoughts and hopes advance.  
269:01,205['  ]| Here their rich recompence and safe rest lies, 
269:01,206['  ]| For this they all th' inferiour world despise; 
269:01,207['  ]| Yet not for this alone, though this excel, 
269:01,208['  ]| But for that Deity who here doth dwell; 
269:01,209['  ]| For heaven it self to Saints no heaven were 
269:01,210['  ]| Did not their God afford his presence there; 
269:01,211['  ]| But now, as he inhabits it, it is 
269:01,212['  ]| The treasure-house of everlasting bliss, 
269:01,213['  ]| The Fathers house, the Pilgrims home, the Port 
269:01,214['  ]| Of happiness, th' illustrious Regal Court, 
269:01,215['  ]| The City that on the worlds summit stands, 
269:01,216['  ]| United in it self, not made with hands; 
269:01,217['  ]| Whose Citizens, Walls, Pavements are so bright 
269:01,218['  ]| They need no Sun in Gods more radiant Light.  
269:01,219['  ]| The purest air being not thickned with dark clouds, 
269:01,220['  ]| No sable night the constant glory shrowds; 
269:01,221['  ]| Nor needs there night, when no dull lassitude 
269:01,222['  ]| Doth into the unwearied soul intrude; 
269:01,223['  ]| New vigour flowing in with that dear joy 
269:01,224['  ]| Whose contemplation doth their lives employ.  
269:01,225['  ]| This heaven, the third to us within, 
269:01,226['  ]| The first, if from the outside we begin, 
269:01,227['  ]| Is incorruptible, and still the same, 
269:01,228['  ]| Confirm'd by him who did its substance frame:  
269:01,229['  ]| No time its strong foundations can decay, 
269:01,230['  ]| Its renew'd glory fadeth not away.  
269:01,231['  ]| The other heavens which it doth enfold, 
269:01,232['  ]| In tract of time as garments shall wax old, 
269:01,233['  ]| And all their outworn glory shall expire 
269:01,234['  ]| In the worlds dreadful last devouring fire; 
269:01,235['  ]| But this shall still unchangeable remain, 
269:01,236['  ]| While all the rolling Spheres which it contains 
269:01,237['  ]| Shall be again into their Chaos whirl'd 
269:01,238['  ]| At the last dissolutions of the world.  
269:01,239['  ]| For God, who made this blessed place to be 
269:01,240['  ]| The habitation of his Sanctitie, 
269:01,241['  ]| Admitting nothing to it that's vile, 
269:01,242['  ]| Nothing that can corrupt, or can defile, 
269:01,243['  ]| Never withdraws his gracious presence thence 
269:01,244['  ]| But is on all the Glory a defence.  
269:01,245['  ]| Nor are his Gates ere shut by night or day; 
269:01,246['  ]| His only dread keeps all foes far away.  
269:01,247['  ]| He not for need, but for Majestick state, 
269:01,248['  ]| Innumerable hosts of Angels did create 
269:01,249['  ]| To be his outguards, in respect of whom 
269:01,250['  ]| He doth his name \El-tzeboim\ assume.  
269:01,251['  ]| These perfect, pure Intelligences be, 
269:01,252['  ]| Excel in Might, and in Celeritie, 
269:01,253['  ]| Whose sublime natures, and whose agile powers, 
269:01,254['  ]| Are vastly so superiour unto ours, 
269:01,255['  ]| Our narrow thoughts cannot to them extend, 
269:01,256['  ]| And things so far above us comprehend, 
269:01,257['  ]| As in themselves, although in part we know, 
269:01,258['  ]| Some scantlings by appearances below; 
269:01,259['  ]| And sacred Writ, wherein we find there be 
269:01,260['  ]| Distinguisht Orders in their Hierarchie; 
269:01,261['  ]| Arch-Angels, Cherubims, all Seraphims, 
269:01,262['  ]| Who celebrate their God with holy Hymns.  
269:01,263['  ]| Ten thousand thousand vulgar Angels stand 
269:01,264['  ]| All in their ranks, waiting the Lords command, 
269:01,265['  ]| Which with prompt inclination of their will, 
269:01,266['  ]| And chearful, swift obedience they fulfil; 
269:01,267['  ]| Whether he them to save poor men employ, 
269:01,268['  ]| Or send them arm'd, proud rebels to destroy; 
269:01,269['  ]| Whether he them to mighty Monarchs send, 
269:01,270['  ]| Or bid them on poor Pilgrim Saints attend, 
269:01,271['  ]| Whether they must in heavenly lustre go, 
269:01,272['  ]| Or walk in mortal mean disguise below:  
269:01,273['  ]| So kind, so humble are they, though so high, 
269:01,274['  ]| They do it with the same alacrity.  
269:01,275['  ]| Why blush we not at our vain pride, when we 
269:01,276['  ]| Such condescension in Heavens Courtiers see, 
269:01,277['  ]| That they who sit on heavenly thrones above, 
269:01,278['  ]| Scorn not to serve poor worms with fervent Love?  
269:01,279['  ]| And joyful praises to th' Almighty sing, 
269:01,280['  ]| When they a mortal to their own home bring?  
269:01,281['  ]| How gracious is the Lord of all, that He 
269:01,282['  ]| Should thus consider poor mortalitie, 
269:01,283['  ]| Such powers for us, into those powers diffuse, 
269:01,284['  ]| Such glorious servants, in our service, use?  
269:01,285['  ]| Who whether they, with Light, or Heaven, had 
269:01,286['  ]| Creation, were within the six days made.  
269:01,287['  ]| But leave we looking through the vail, nor pry 
269:01,288['  ]| Too long on things wrapt up in mystery, 
269:01,289['  ]| Reserv'd to be our wonder at that time, 
269:01,290['  ]| When we shall up to their high mountain climb.  
269:01,291['  ]| Besides th' Empyrean heaven we are told 
269:01,292['  ]| Of divers other heavens which we behold 
269:01,293['  ]| Only by Reasons eye, yet were not they 
269:01,294['  ]| If made at least distinguisht the first day.  
269:01,295['  ]| Then from the height we cannot comprehend, 
269:01,296['  ]| Let us to our inferiour world descend.  
269:01,297['  ]| The Earth at first was a vast empty place, 
269:01,298['  ]| A rude congestion without form or grace, 
269:01,299['  ]| A confus'd mass of undistinguisht seed, 
269:01,300['  ]| Darkness the deep, the Deep the solid hid:  
269:01,301['  ]| Where things did in unperfect Causes sleep, 
269:01,302['  ]| Until Gods Spirit mov'd the quiet deep, 
269:01,303['  ]| Brooding the creatures under wings of Love, 
269:01,304['  ]| As tender birds hatcht by a Turtle Dove.  
269:02,000['  ]| <Canto II.> 
269:02,001['  ]| AGain spoke God; the trembling waters move, 
269:02,002['  ]| Part flie up in thick mists, made clouds above, 
269:02,003['  ]| Part closer shrink about the earth below, 
269:02,004['  ]| But did not yet the mountains dry heads show.  
269:02,005['  ]| Th' allforming Word stretcht out the Firmament, 
269:02,006['  ]| Like azure curtains round his glorious Tent, 
269:02,007['  ]| And in its hidden chambers did dispose 
269:02,008['  ]| The magazines of Hail, and Rain, and Snows, 
269:02,009['  ]| Amongst those thicker clouds, from whose dark womb 
269:02,010['  ]| Th' imprison'd winds, in flame and thunder come.  
269:02,011['  ]| Those Clouds which over all the wondrous Arch 
269:02,012['  ]| Like hosts of various formed creatures march, 
269:02,013['  ]| And change the Scenes in our admiring eyes; 
269:02,014['  ]| Who sometimes see them like vast mountains rise.  
269:02,015['  ]| Sometimes like pleasant Seas with clear waves glide, 
269:02,016['  ]| Sometimes like Ships on foaming billows ride, 
269:02,017['  ]| Sometimes like mounted warriours they advance, 
269:02,018['  ]| And seem to fire the smoaking Ordinance.  
269:02,019['  ]| Sometimes like shady Forests they appear, 
269:02,020['  ]| Here Monsters walking, Castles rising there.  
269:02,021['  ]| Scorn Princes your embroider'd Canopies, 
269:02,022['  ]| And painted roofs, the poor whom you despise 
269:02,023['  ]| With far more ravishing delight are fed, 
269:02,024['  ]| While various clouds sayl o're th' unhoused head, 
269:02,025['  ]| And their heav'd eyes with nobler scenes present 
269:02,026['  ]| Than your Poetick Courtiers can invent.  
269:02,027['  ]| Thus the exalted waters were dispos'd, 
269:02,028['  ]| And liquid Skies the solid world enclos'd, 
269:02,029['  ]| To magnifie the most almighty hand, 
269:02,030['  ]| That makes thin floods like rocks of crystal stand, 
269:02,031['  ]| Not quenching, nor drunk up by that bright wall 
269:02,032['  ]| Of fire, which neighbouring them, encircles all.  
269:02,033['  ]| The new built Firmament God Heaven nam'd, 
269:02,034['  ]| And over all the Arch his windows fram'd.  
269:02,035['  ]| From whence his liberal hand at due time pours 
269:02,036['  ]| Upon the thirsty earth refreshing showers; 
269:02,037['  ]| And clothes her bosome with descending Snow 
269:02,038['  ]| To cherish the young seeds when cold winds blow:  
269:02,039['  ]| Hence every night his fatning dews he sheds, 
269:02,040['  ]| And scatters Pearls amidst th' enamel'd beds.  
269:02,041['  ]| But when presumptuous sins the bright arch scale, 
269:02,042['  ]| He beats them back with terrifying hail:  
269:02,043['  ]| Which like small shot amidst his foes he sends, 
269:02,044['  ]| Till flaming Thunder, his great Ordnance, rends 
269:02,045['  ]| The clouds, which, big with horror, ready stand 
269:02,046['  ]| To pour their burthens forth at his command.  
269:02,047['  ]| But th' unpolluted air as yet had not 
269:02,048['  ]| From mortals impious breath infection got, 
269:02,049['  ]| Enlightned then by a superiour ray 
269:02,050['  ]| A serene lustre deckt the second day.  
269:02,051['  ]| Th' inferiour Globe was fashion'd on the third, 
269:02,052['  ]| When waters at the all-commanding word 
269:02,053['  ]| Did hastily into their channels glide, 
269:02,054['  ]| And the uncover'd hills as soon were dried.  
269:02,055['  ]| In the same body thus, distinct, and joyn'd, 
269:02,056['  ]| Water and earth; as flesh and blood, we find.  
269:02,057['  ]| The late collected waters God call'd Seas.  
269:02,058['  ]| Springs, Lakes, streams, and broad Rivers are from these 
269:02,059['  ]| Brancht, like life feeding veins, in every land, 
269:02,060['  ]| Yet wheresoe're they seem to flow or stand, 
269:02,061['  ]| As all in the vast Oceans bosome bred, 
269:02,062['  ]| They daily reassemble in their head, 
269:02,063['  ]| Which thorough secret conduits back conveys 
269:02,064['  ]| To every Spring, the tribute that it pays.  
269:02,065['  ]| So ages from th' Eternal bosome creep, 
269:02,066['  ]| So lose them selves again in that vast deep.  
269:02,067['  ]| So Empires, so all other humane things, 
269:02,068['  ]| With winding streams run to their native springs.  
269:02,069['  ]| So all the goodness mortals exercise 
269:02,070['  ]| Flows back to God out of his own supplies.  
269:02,071['  ]| Now the great fabrick in all parts compleat, 
269:02,072['  ]| Beauty was call'd forth to adorn the seat; 
269:02,073['  ]| Where Earth, fixt in the Centre, was the ground, 
269:02,074['  ]| A mantle of light air compast it round; 
269:02,075['  ]| Then first the watrie, then the fiery wall, 
269:02,076['  ]| And glittering heaven last involving all.  
269:02,077['  ]| Earth' s fair green robe vi'd with the azure skies, 
269:02,078['  ]| Her proud Woods near the flaming Towers did rise.  
269:02,079['  ]| The valleys Trees, though less in breadth and height, 
269:02,080['  ]| Yet hung with various fruit, as much delight.  
269:02,081['  ]| Beneath these little shrubs and bushes sprung 
269:02,082['  ]| With fair flowers cloth'd, and with rich berries hung, 
269:02,083['  ]| Whose more delightful fruits seem'd to upbraid 
269:02,084['  ]| The tall trees yielding only barren shade.  
269:02,085['  ]| Then sprouted Grass and Herbs and Plants 
269:02,086['  ]| Prepar'd to feed the earth' s inhabitants, 
269:02,087['  ]| To glad their nostrils, and delight their eyes, 
269:02,088['  ]| Revive their spirits, cure their maladies.  
269:02,089['  ]| Nor by these are the senses only fed, 
269:02,090['  ]| But th' understanding too, while we may read 
269:02,091['  ]| In every leaf, lectures of Providence, 
269:02,092['  ]| Eternal Wisdom, Love, Omnipotence.  
269:02,093['  ]| Which th' eye that sees not, with Hells mists is blind, 
269:02,094['  ]| That which regards not, is of brutish kind.  
269:02,095['  ]| The various colours, figures, powers of these 
269:02,096['  ]| Are their Creators growing witnesses 
269:02,097['  ]| Their glories emblems are, wherein we see 
269:02,098['  ]| How frail our humane lives and beauties be.  
269:02,099['  ]| Even like those flowers which at the Sun-rise spread 
269:02,100['  ]| Their gawdy leaves, and are at evening dead.  
269:02,101['  ]| Yet while they in their native lustre shine, 
269:02,102['  ]| The Eastern Monarchs are not half so fine.  
269:02,103['  ]| In richer robes God clothes the dirty soyl 
269:02,104['  ]| Than men can purchase by their sin and toyl 
269:02,105['  ]| Then rather Fields than painted Courts admire, 
269:02,106['  ]| Yet seeing both, think both must feed the fire:  
269:02,107['  ]| Only Gods works have roots and seeds, from whence 
269:02,108['  ]| They spring again in grace and excellence, 
269:02,109['  ]| But mens have none, like hasty lightning, they 
269:02,110['  ]| Flash out, and so for ever pass away.  
269:02,111['  ]| This fair Creation finisht the third day, 
269:02,112['  ]| In whose end, God did the whole work survey, 
269:02,113['  ]| The Seas, the Skies, the Trees, and less plants view'd, 
269:02,114['  ]| And by his approbation made them good; 
269:02,115['  ]| In all the plants, did living seeds enclose, 
269:02,116['  ]| Whence their successive generations rose; 
269:02,117['  ]| Gave them those powers which in them still remain, 
269:02,118['  ]| Whereby they man and beast with food sustain.  
269:02,119['  ]| Thrice had the day to gloomy night resign'd, 
269:02,120['  ]| And thrice victorious o're the darkness shin'd, 
269:02,121['  ]| Before the mediate cause of it, the Sun 
269:02,122['  ]| Or any star had their creation, 
269:02,123['  ]| For with th' Omnipotent it is all one 
269:02,124['  ]| To cause the day without, or by the Sun.  
269:02,125['  ]| God in the world by second causes reigns, 
269:02,126['  ]| But is not tied to those means he ordains.  
269:02,127['  ]| Let no heart faint then that on him depends, 
269:02,128['  ]| When the means fail, that lead to their wisht ends.  
269:02,129['  ]| For God the thing, if good, will bring about 
269:02,130['  ]| With instruments we see not, or without.  
269:02,131['  ]| The fourth Light having now expell'd the shade 
269:02,132['  ]| God on that day the Luminaries made, 
269:02,133['  ]| And plac'd them all in their peculiar sphears 
269:02,134['  ]| To measure out our days, and months, and years, 
269:02,135['  ]| Which by their various motions are renew'd, 
269:02,136['  ]| And heat and cold have their vicissitude:  
269:02,137['  ]| So Springs and Autumns still successive be, 
269:02,138['  ]| Till ages lose them in Eternity.  
269:02,139['  ]| The Sun whom th' \Hebrews\ Gods great servant call, 
269:02,140['  ]| Plac'd in the middle Orb, as Lord of all, 
269:02,141['  ]| Is in a radiant flaming chariot whirl'd, 
269:02,142['  ]| And dayly carried round about the world 
269:02,143['  ]| By the first Movers force, who in that race 
269:02,144['  ]| Scatters his light and heat in every place, 
269:02,145['  ]| Yet not at once.  Now in the East he shines, 
269:02,146['  ]| And then again to' the Western deep declines, 
269:02,147['  ]| Seeming to quench his blazing taper there 
269:02,148['  ]| While it enlightens the other Hemisphere.  
269:02,149['  ]| Thus he their share of day and night divides 
269:02,150['  ]| Unto each world in their alternate tides.  
269:02,151['  ]| But then its Orb by its own motion roll'd, 
269:02,152['  ]| Varies the seasons, brings in heat and cold, 
269:02,153['  ]| As it projects its rays in a straight line, 
269:02,154['  ]| Or more obliquely on the Earth doth shine.  
269:02,155['  ]| And thus doth he to the low world dispense 
269:02,156['  ]| Life-feeding and engendring influence.  
269:02,157['  ]| This Lord of Day with his reflected light 
269:02,158['  ]| Guilds the pale Moon the Empress of the night, 
269:02,159['  ]| Whose dim Orb monthly wastes and glows, 
269:02,160['  ]| Doth at the first sharp pointed horns disclose, 
269:02,161['  ]| Then half, then her full-shining Globe reveals, 
269:02,162['  ]| Which waining she by like degrees conceals.  
269:02,163['  ]| The other glittering Planets now appear 
269:02,164['  ]| Each as a King enthron'd in his own Sphear; 
269:02,165['  ]| Then the eighth heaven in fuller lustre shines 
269:02,166['  ]| Thick set with stars.  All these were made for signs 
269:02,167['  ]| That mortals by observing them might know 
269:02,168['  ]| Due times to cultivate the earth below, 
269:02,169['  ]| To gather fruits, plant trees, and sow their seed, 
269:02,170['  ]| To cure their herds, and let their fair flocks breed, 
269:02,171['  ]| Into safe harbours to retire their ships, 
269:02,172['  ]| Again to launch out into the calm deeps, 
269:02,173['  ]| Their wandring vessels in broad seas to guide, 
269:02,174['  ]| When the lost shores no longer are descried; 
269:02,175['  ]| Physicians to direct in their great art, 
269:02,176['  ]| And other useful knowledge to impart.  
269:02,177['  ]| Nor were they only made for signs to shew 
269:02,178['  ]| Fit opportunities for things we do, 
269:02,179['  ]| But in their various aspects too we read 
269:02,180['  ]| Various events which shall in time succeed, 
269:02,181['  ]| Droughts, inundations, famines, plagues and wars, 
269:02,182['  ]| By several conjunctions of the Stars, 
269:02,183['  ]| At least shewn, if not caus'd, through the strong powers 
269:02,184['  ]| And workings Astral bodies have on ours, 
269:02,185['  ]| Which as above they variously are joyn'd, 
269:02,186['  ]| So are their subjects here below, enclin'd 
269:02,187['  ]| To sadness, mirth, dread, quiet, love or hate, 
269:02,188['  ]| All that may calm, or trouble any state.  
269:02,189['  ]| Yet are they but a second cause, which God 
269:02,190['  ]| Shakes over sinners as a flaming rod, 
269:02,191['  ]| And further manages in his own hands, 
269:02,192['  ]| To scourge the pride of all rebellious lands; 
269:02,193['  ]| Falsely and vainly do blind mortals then, 
269:02,194['  ]| To them impute the fates and ills of men, 
269:02,195['  ]| When their sinister operations be 
269:02,196['  ]| Only th' effects of mens iniquitie, 
269:02,197['  ]| Which makes the Lord his glittering hosts thus send 
269:02,198['  ]| T' oexecute the just threats they portend 
269:02,199['  ]| Nor are they characters of wrath alone, 
269:02,200['  ]| They sometimes have Gods grace to mankind shown, 
269:02,201['  ]| Such was that new Star which did heaven adorn, 
269:02,202['  ]| When the great King of the whole word was born.  
269:02,203['  ]| Such were those stars that fought for \Israel\ 
269:02,204['  ]| When \Jabins\ vanquisht host, by Gods host fell.  
269:02,205['  ]| Even those Stars which threaten misery and woe 
269:02,206['  ]| To wicked men, to Saints deliverance show:  
269:02,207['  ]| For when God cuts the bloody Tyrant down, 
269:02,208['  ]| He will their lives with peace and blessings crown.  
269:02,209['  ]| Thus the fourth evening did the fourth day close, 
269:02,210['  ]| And where the Sun went down, the Stars arose.  
269:02,211['  ]| New triumph now the fifth day celebrates, 
269:02,212['  ]| The perfum'd morning opes her purple gates, 
269:02,213['  ]| Through which the Suns Pavilion doth appear 
269:02,214['  ]| And he array'd in all his lustre there, 
269:02,215['  ]| Like a fresh Bridegroom with majestique grace, 
269:02,216['  ]| And joy diffusing vigour in his face, 
269:02,217['  ]| Comes gladly forth, to greet his virgin bride, 
269:02,218['  ]| Trick'd up in all her ornaments and pride; 
269:02,219['  ]| Her lovely maids at his approach unfold 
269:02,220['  ]| Their gaudie vests, on which he scatters gold, 
269:02,221['  ]| Both chearing and enriching every place, 
269:02,222['  ]| Through which he passes in his glorious race.  
269:02,223['  ]| But though he found a noble Theatre, 
269:02,224['  ]| As yet in it no living creatures were; 
269:02,225['  ]| Though flowry carpets spread the whole Earths face, 
269:02,226['  ]| And rich embroideries the upper Arch did grace, 
269:02,227['  ]| And standards on the mountains stood between 
269:02,228['  ]| Bearing festoones like pillars wreath' d with green, 
269:02,229['  ]| The velvet couches and the mossy seats, 
269:02,230['  ]| The open walks and the more close retreats 
269:02,231['  ]| Were all prepar'd; Yet no foot trod the woods, 
269:02,232['  ]| Nor no mouth yet had toucht the pleasant floods; 
269:02,233['  ]| No weary creature had repos'd its head 
269:02,234['  ]| Among the sweet perfumes of the low bed; 
269:02,235['  ]| The air was not respir'd in living breath, 
269:02,236['  ]| Throughout a general stilnes reign'd, like death.  
269:02,237['  ]| The King of day came forth, but unadmir'd, 
269:02,238['  ]| Like unprais'd gallants blushingly retir'd; 
269:02,239['  ]| As an uncourted beauty, Nights pale Queen, 
269:02,240['  ]| Grew sick to shine where she could not be seen.  
269:02,241['  ]| When the Creator first for mute herds calls, 
269:02,242['  ]| And bade the waters bring forth animals:  
269:02,243['  ]| Then was all shell-fish and each Scaly race 
269:02,244['  ]| At once produc'd, in their assigned place, 
269:02,245['  ]| The crooked Dolphins, great \Leviathan\, 
269:02,246['  ]| And all the Monsters of the Ocean, 
269:02,247['  ]| Like wanton kids among the billows play'd, 
269:02,248['  ]| Nor was there after on the dry land made 
269:02,249['  ]| Any one beast of less or greater kind 
269:02,250['  ]| Whose life we do not in the waters find; 
269:02,251['  ]| Where every greater fish devours the less, 
269:02,252['  ]| As mighty Lords poor Commoners oppress.  
269:02,253['  ]| Next the Almighty by his forming Word 
269:02,254['  ]| Made the whole plumie race, and every bird 
269:02,255['  ]| Its proper place assign'd, while with light wings 
269:02,256['  ]| All mounted heaven, some o're the lakes and springs, 
269:02,257['  ]| Some over the vast Fens and Seas did flie, 
269:02,258['  ]| Some near the ground, some in the cloudy skie, 
269:02,259['  ]| Some in high trees their proud nests built, some chose 
269:02,260['  ]| The humble shrubs for their more safe repose, 
269:02,261['  ]| Some did the marshes, some the rivers love, 
269:02,262['  ]| Some the Corn-fields, and some the shady grove.  
269:02,263['  ]| That silence which reign'd every where before, 
269:02,264['  ]| Its universal Empire held no more, 
269:02,265['  ]| Even night and darkness its own dear retreat 
269:02,266['  ]| Could not preserve it in their reign compleat:  
269:02,267['  ]| The Nightingales with their complaining notes, 
269:02,268['  ]| Ravens and Owls with their ill-boding throats, 
269:02,269['  ]| And all the birds of night, shrill crowing Cocks 
269:02,270['  ]| Whose due kept times, made them the worlds first clocks, 
269:02,271['  ]| All interrupted it, even in the night, 
269:02,272['  ]| But at the first appearance of the light 
269:02,273['  ]| A thousand voyces, the green woods whole quire 
269:02,274['  ]| With their loud musick do the day admire; 
269:02,275['  ]| The Lark doth with her single carol rise, 
269:02,276['  ]| To welcome the fair morning in the skies; 
269:02,277['  ]| The amorous and still complaining Dove, 
269:02,278['  ]| Courts not the day, but woes her own fair love; 
269:02,279['  ]| The Jays and Crows against each other rayl, 
269:02,280['  ]| And chattering Pies begin their gossips tale:  
269:02,281['  ]| Thus life was carri'd on, which first begun 
269:02,282['  ]| In growth of plants, in fishes motion, 
269:02,283['  ]| And next declar'd it self in living sound, 
269:02,284['  ]| Whilst various noise the yielding air did wound.  
269:02,285['  ]| Various instincts the Birds by nature have, 
269:02,286['  ]| Which God to them in their creation gave, 
269:02,287['  ]| That unto their observers do declare 
269:02,288['  ]| The storms and calms approaching in the air, 
269:02,289['  ]| That teach them how to build their nests at spring, 
269:02,290['  ]| And hatch their young under their nursing wing, 
269:02,291['  ]| To lead abroad and guard their tender brood, 
269:02,292['  ]| To know their hurtful and their healing food, 
269:02,293['  ]| To feed them till their strength be perfect grown, 
269:02,294['  ]| And after teach them how to feed alone.  
269:02,295['  ]| Could we the lessons they hold forth improve, 
269:02,296['  ]| We might from some learn chaste and constant love, 
269:02,297['  ]| Conjugal kindness of the paired Swans, 
269:02,298['  ]| Paternal Bounty of the Pelicans, 
269:02,299['  ]| While they are prodigal of their own blood 
269:02,300['  ]| To feed their chickens with that precious food.  
269:03,000['  ]| <Canto III.> 
269:03,001['  ]| NOW was the glorious Universe compleat 
269:03,002['  ]| And every thing in beauteous order set, 
269:03,003['  ]| When God, about to make the King of all, 
269:03,004['  ]| Did in himself a sacred council call; 
269:03,005['  ]| Not that he needed to deliberate, 
269:03,006['  ]| But pleas'd t' allow solemnity and state, 
269:03,007['  ]| To wait upon that noble creatures birth 
269:03,008['  ]| For whom he had design'd both heaven and earth:  
269:03,009[A  ]| Let us, 
269:03,009['  ]| said God, with soveraign power indued 
269:03,010[A  ]| Make man after our own similitude, 
269:03,011[A  ]| Let him our sacred imprest image bear 
269:03,012[A  ]| Ruling o're all in earth, and sea, and air.  
269:03,013['  ]| Then made the Lord a curious mold of clay, 
269:03,014['  ]| Which lifeless on the earths cold bosome lay, 
269:03,015['  ]| When God did it with living breath inspire, 
269:03,016['  ]| A soul in all, and every part entire, 
269:03,017['  ]| Where life ris' above motion, sound and sense 
269:03,018['  ]| To higher reason and intelligence; 
269:03,019['  ]| And this is truly termed life alone, 
269:03,020['  ]| Which makes lifes fountain to the living known.  
269:03,021['  ]| This life into it self doth gather all 
269:03,022['  ]| The rest maintain'd by its original, 
269:03,023['  ]| Which gives it Being, Motion, Sense, Warmth, Breath, 
269:03,024['  ]| And those chief Powers that are not lost in death.  
269:03,025['  ]| Thus was the noblest creature the last made, 
269:03,026['  ]| As he in whom the rest perfection had, 
269:03,027['  ]| In whom both parts of the great world were joyn'd, 
269:03,028['  ]| Earth in his members, Heaven in his mind; 
269:03,029['  ]| Whose vast reach the whole Universe compriz'd, 
269:03,030['  ]| And saw it in himself epitomiz'd, 
269:03,031['  ]| Yet not the Centre nor circumference can 
269:03,032['  ]| Fill the more comprehensive soul of Man, 
269:03,033['  ]| Whose life is but a progress of desire, 
269:03,034['  ]| Which still enjoy'd, doth something else require, 
269:03,035['  ]| Unsatisfied with all it hath pursued 
269:03,036['  ]| Until it rest in God, the Soveraign Good.  
269:03,037['  ]| The earthly mansion of this heavenly guest 
269:03,038['  ]| Peculiar priviledges too possest.  
269:03,039['  ]| Whereas all other creatures clothed were 
269:03,040['  ]| In Shells, Scales, gaudy Plumes, or Woolls, or Hair, 
269:03,041['  ]| Only a fair smooth skin o're man was drawn, 
269:03,042['  ]| Like Damask roses blushing through pure Lawn.  
269:03,043['  ]| The azure veins, where blood and spirits flow, 
269:03,044['  ]| Like Violets in a field of Lillies show.  
269:03,045['  ]| As others have a down bent countenance, 
269:03,046['  ]| He only doth his head to heaven advance, 
269:03,047['  ]| Resembling thus a Tree whose noble root 
269:03,048['  ]| In heaven grows, whence all his graces shoot.  
269:03,049['  ]| He only on two upright columns stands, 
269:03,050['  ]| He only hath, and knows the use of hands, 
269:03,051['  ]| Which Gods rich bounties for the rest receive, 
269:03,052['  ]| And aid to all the other members give.  
269:03,053['  ]| He only hath a voice articulate, 
269:03,054['  ]| Varied by joy, grief, anger, love and hate, 
269:03,055['  ]| And every other motion of the mind 
269:03,056['  ]| Which hereby doth an apt expression find.  
269:03,057['  ]| Hereby glad mirth in laughter is alone 
269:03,058['  ]| By man exprest; in a peculiar groan, 
269:03,059['  ]| His grief comes forth, accompanied with tears, 
269:03,060['  ]| Peculiar shrieks utter his suddain fears.  
269:03,061['  ]| Herein is Musick too, which sweetly charms 
269:03,062['  ]| The sense, and the most savage heart disarms.  
269:03,063['  ]| The Gate of this God in the head did place.  
269:03,064['  ]| The head which is the bodies chiefest grace, 
269:03,065['  ]| The noble Palace of the Royal guest 
269:03,066['  ]| Within by Fancy and Invention drest, 
269:03,067['  ]| With many pleasant useful Ornaments 
269:03,068['  ]| Which new Imagination still presents, 
269:03,069['  ]| Adorn'd without, by Majesty and Grace, 
269:03,070['  ]| O who can tell the wonders of a face!  
269:03,071['  ]| In none of all his fabriques more than here 
269:03,072['  ]| Doth the Creators glorious Power appear, 
269:03,073['  ]| That of so many thousands which we see 
269:03,074['  ]| All humane creatures like, all different be; 
269:03,075['  ]| If the Front be the glory of mans frame, 
269:03,076['  ]| Those Lamps which in its upper windows flame, 
269:03,077['  ]| Illustrate it, and as days radiant Star, 
269:03,078['  ]| In the clear heaven of a bright face are.  
269:03,079['  ]| Here Love takes stand, and here ardent Desire 
269:03,080['  ]| Enters the soul, as fire drawn in by fire, 
269:03,081['  ]| At two ports, on each side, the Hearing sense 
269:03,082['  ]| Still waits to take in fresh intelligence, 
269:03,083['  ]| But the false spies both at the ears and eyes, 
269:03,084['  ]| Conspire with strangers for the souls surprize, 
269:03,085['  ]| And her all life perturbing passions in, 
269:03,086['  ]| Which with tears, sighs and groans issue again.  
269:03,087['  ]| Nor do those Labyrinths which like brest-works are, 
269:03,088['  ]| About those secret Ports, serve for a Bar 
269:03,089['  ]| To the false Sorcerers conducted by 
269:03,090['  ]| Mans own impudent Curiosity.  
269:03,091['  ]| There is an Arch i'the middle of the face 
269:03,092['  ]| Of equal necessary use and grace, 
269:03,093['  ]| For there men suck up the life feeding air; 
269:03,094['  ]| And panting bosomes are discharged there; 
269:03,095['  ]| Beneath it is the chief and beauteous gate, 
269:03,096['  ]| About which various pleasant graces wait, 
269:03,097['  ]| When smiles the Rubie doors a little way 
269:03,098['  ]| Unfold, or laughter doth them quite display, 
269:03,099['  ]| And opening the Vermillion Curtains shows 
269:03,100['  ]| The Ivory piles set in two even rows, 
269:03,101['  ]| Before the portal, as a double guard, 
269:03,102['  ]| By which the busie tongue is helpt and barr'd; 
269:03,103['  ]| Whose sweet sounds charm, when love doth it inspire, 
269:03,104['  ]| And when hate moves it, set the world on fire.  
269:03,105['  ]| Within this portal inner vault is plac't 
269:03,106['  ]| The palate where sense meets its joys in tast; 
269:03,107['  ]| On rising cheeks beauty in white and red 
269:03,108['  ]| Strives with it self, white on the forehead spread 
269:03,109['  ]| Its undisputed glory there maintains, 
269:03,110['  ]| And is illustrated with azure veins.  
269:03,111['  ]| The Brows, Loves bow, and beauties shadow are, 
269:03,112['  ]| A thick set grove of soft and shining hair 
269:03,113['  ]| Adorns the head, and shews like crowning rays, 
269:03,114['  ]| While th' airs soft breath among the loose curls plays.  
269:03,115['  ]| Besides the colours and the features, we 
269:03,116['  ]| Admire their just and perfect Symmetrie, 
269:03,117['  ]| Whose ravishing resultance is that air 
269:03,118['  ]| That graces all, and is not any where; 
269:03,119['  ]| Whereof we cannot well say what it is, 
269:03,120['  ]| Yet Beauties chiefest excellence lies in this; 
269:03,121['  ]| Which mocks the Painters in their best designs, 
269:03,122['  ]| And is not held by their exactest lines.  
269:03,123['  ]| But while we gaze upon our own fair frame 
269:03,124['  ]| Let us remember too from whence it came, 
269:03,125['  ]| And that by sin corrupted now, it must 
269:03,126['  ]| Return to its originary dust.  
269:03,127['  ]| How undecently doth pride then lift that head 
269:03,128['  ]| On which the meanest feet must shortly tread?  
269:03,129['  ]| Yet at the first it was with glory crown'd, 
269:03,130['  ]| Till Satans fraud gave it the mortal wound.  
269:03,131['  ]| This excellent creature God did \Adam\ call 
269:03,132['  ]| To mind him of his low Original, 
269:03,133['  ]| Whom he had form'd out of the common ground 
269:03,134['  ]| Which then with various pleasures did abound.  
269:03,135['  ]| The whole Earth was one large delightful Field, 
269:03,136['  ]| That till man sin'd no hurtful briars did yield, 
269:03,137['  ]| But God enclosing one part from the rest, 
269:03,138['  ]| A Paradise in the rich spicie East 
269:03,139['  ]| Had stor'd with Natures wealthy Magazine, 
269:03,140['  ]| Where every plant did in its lustre shine, 
269:03,141['  ]| But did not grow promiscuously there, 
269:03,142['  ]| They all dispos'd in such rich order were 
269:03,143['  ]| As did augment their single native grace, 
269:03,144['  ]| And perfected the pleasure of the place, 
269:03,145['  ]| To such a height that th' apelike art of man, 
269:03,146['  ]| Licentious Pens, or Pencils never can 
269:03,147['  ]| With all th' essays of all presuming wit, 
269:03,148['  ]| Or form or feign ought that approaches it.  
269:03,149['  ]| Whether it were a fruitful Hill or Vale, 
269:03,150['  ]| Whether high Rocks, or Trees did it impale, 
269:03,151['  ]| Or Rivers with their clear and kind embrace 
269:03,152['  ]| Into a pleasant island form'd the place, 
269:03,153['  ]| Whether its noble scituation were 
269:03,154['  ]| On Earth, in the bright Moon, or in the Air, 
269:03,155['  ]| In what forms stood the various trees and flowers, 
269:03,156['  ]| The disposition of the walks and bowers, 
269:03,157['  ]| Whereof no certain word, nor sign remains, 
269:03,158['  ]| We dare not take from mens inventive brains.  
269:03,159['  ]| We know there was pleasant and noble shade 
269:03,160['  ]| Which the tall growing Pines and Cedars made, 
269:03,161['  ]| And thicker covers, which the light and heat 
269:03,162['  ]| Ev'n at noon day could scarcely penetrate, 
269:03,163['  ]| A crystal River on whose verdant banks 
269:03,164['  ]| The crowned fruit-trees stood in lovely ranks, 
269:03,165['  ]| His gentle wave thorough the garden led, 
269:03,166['  ]| And all the spreading roots with moysture fed.  
269:03,167['  ]| But past th' enclosure, thence the single stream 
269:03,168['  ]| Parted in four, four noble floods became; 
269:03,169['  ]| \Pison\ whose large arms \Havilah\ enfold; 
269:03,170['  ]| A wealthy land enricht with finest gold, 
269:03,171['  ]| Where also many precious stones are found; 
269:03,172['  ]| The second river \Githon\, doth surround 
269:03,173['  ]| All that fair land where \Chus\ inhabited, 
269:03,174['  ]| Where Tyranny first rais'd up her proud head, 
269:03,175['  ]| And led her blood-hounds all along the shore, 
269:03,176['  ]| Polluting the pure stream with crimson gore.  
269:03,177['  ]| \Edens\ third river \Hiddekell\ they call, 
269:03,178['  ]| Whose water Eastward in \Assiria\ fall.  
269:03,179['  ]| The fourth \Euphrates\ whose swift stream did run 
269:03,180['  ]| About the stately walls of \Babylon\; 
269:03,181['  ]| ANd in the revolution of some years 
269:03,182['  ]| Swell'd high, fed with the captiv'd Hebrews tears.  
269:03,183['  ]| God in the midst of Paradise did place 
269:03,184['  ]| Two trees, that stood up drest in all the grace, 
269:03,185['  ]| The verdure, beauty, sweetness, excellence, 
269:03,186['  ]| With which all else could tempt or feast the Sense:  
269:03,187['  ]| On one apples of knowledge did abound, 
269:03,188['  ]| And life-confirming fruit the other crown'd.  
269:03,189['  ]| And now did God the new created King 
269:03,190['  ]| Into the pleasures of his earthly palace bring:  
269:03,191['  ]| The air, spice, balm, and amber did respire, 
269:03,192['  ]| His ears were feasted by the \Sylvan\ Quire, 
269:03,193['  ]| Like country girls, grass flowers did dispute 
269:03,194['  ]| Their humble beauties with the high born fruit; 
269:03,195['  ]| Both high and low their gawdy colours vied, 
269:03,196['  ]| As Courtiers do in their contentious pride, 
269:03,197['  ]| Striving which of them should yield most delight, 
269:03,198['  ]| And stand the finest in their Soveraigns sight.  
269:03,199['  ]| The shrubs with berries crown'd like precious gems, 
269:03,200['  ]| Offer'd their supreme Lord their Diadems 
269:03,201['  ]| Which did no single sense alone invite, 
269:03,202['  ]| Courting alike the eyes and appetite.  
269:03,203['  ]| Among all these the eye-refreshing green, 
269:03,204['  ]| Sometimes alone, sometimes in mixture seen, 
269:03,205['  ]| O're all the banks and all the flat ground spread, 
269:03,206['  ]| Seem'd an embroider'd, or plain velvet bed.  
269:03,207['  ]| And that each sense might its refreshment have, 
269:03,208['  ]| The gentle air soft pleasant touches gave 
269:03,209['  ]| Unto his parting limbs, whenever they 
269:03,210['  ]| Upon the sweet and mossie couches lay.  
269:03,211['  ]| A shady Eminence there was, whereon 
269:03,212['  ]| The noble creature sate, as on his throne, 
269:03,213['  ]| When God brought every Fowl, and every Brute, 
269:03,214['  ]| That he might Names unto their natures suit, 
269:03,215['  ]| Whose comprehensive understanding knew 
269:03,216['  ]| How to distinguish them, at their first view; 
269:03,217['  ]| And they retaining those names ever since, 
269:03,218['  ]| Are monuments of his first excellence, 
269:03,219['  ]| And the Creators providential grace, 
269:03,220['  ]| Who in those names, left us some prints to trace; 
269:03,221['  ]| Nature, mysterious grown, since we grew blind, 
269:03,222['  ]| Whose Labyrinths we should less easily find 
269:03,223['  ]| If those first appellations, as a clue, 
269:03,224['  ]| Did not in some serve to lead us through, 
269:03,225['  ]| And rectifie that frequent gross mistake, 
269:03,226['  ]| Which our weak judgements and sick senses make, 
269:03,227['  ]| Since man ambitious to know more, that sin 
269:03,228['  ]| Brought dullness, ignorance and error in.  
269:03,229['  ]| Though God himself to man did condescend, 
269:03,230['  ]| Though his knowledge to all natures did extend; 
269:03,231['  ]| Though heaven and earth thus centred in his mind, 
269:03,232['  ]| Yet being the only one of his whole kind, 
269:03,233['  ]| He found himself without an equal mate, 
269:03,234['  ]| To whom he might his joys communicate, 
269:03,235['  ]| And by communication multiply.  
269:03,236['  ]| Too far out of his reach was God on high, 
269:03,237['  ]| Too much below him bruitish creatures were, 
269:03,238['  ]| God could at first have made a humane pair, 
269:03,239['  ]| But that it was his will to let man see 
269:03,240['  ]| The need and sweetness of societie; 
269:03,241['  ]| Who, though he were his Makers Favourite, 
269:03,242['  ]| Feasted in Paradise with all delight, 
269:03,243['  ]| Though all the creatures paid him homage, yet 
269:03,244['  ]| Was not his unimparted joy compleat, 
269:03,245['  ]| While there was not a second of his kind, 
269:03,246['  ]| Indued with such a form and such a mind, 
269:03,247['  ]| As might alike his soul and senses feast:  
269:03,248['  ]| He saw that every bird and every beast 
269:03,249['  ]| Its own resemblance in its female viewed, 
269:03,250['  ]| And only union with its like pursued.  
269:03,251['  ]| Hence birds with birds, and fish with fish abide, 
269:03,252['  ]| Nor those with beasts, nor beasts with these reside:  
269:03,253['  ]| According to their several species too, 
269:03,254['  ]| As several housholds in one City do, 
269:03,255['  ]| So they with their own kinds associate:  
269:03,256['  ]| The Kingly eagle hath no buzzard mate; 
269:03,257['  ]| The ravens, more their own black feather love, 
269:03,258['  ]| Than painted pheasants, or the fair-neck'd dove.  
269:03,258['  ]| So Bears to rough Bears rather do encline 
269:03,260['  ]| Than to majestick Lions, or fair kine.  
269:03,261['  ]| If it be thus with brutes, much less than can 
269:03,262['  ]| The bruitish conversation suit with man.  
269:03,263['  ]| 'Tis only like desires like things unite:  
269:03,264['  ]| In union likeness only feeds delight.  
269:03,265['  ]| Where unlike natures in conjunction are, 
269:03,266['  ]| There is no product but perpetual war, 
269:03,267['  ]| Such as there was in Natures troubled womb, 
269:03,268['  ]| Until the sever'd births from thence did come, 
269:03,269['  ]| For the whole world nor order had, nor grace 
269:03,270['  ]| Till sever'd elements each their own place 
269:03,271['  ]| Assigned were, and while in them they keep, 
269:03,272['  ]| Heaven still smiles above, th' untroubled deep 
269:03,273['  ]| With kind salutes embraces the dry land, 
269:03,274['  ]| Firm doth the earth on its foundation stand; 
269:03,275['  ]| A chearful light streams from th' a+etherial fire 
269:03,276['  ]| And all in universal joy conspire.  
269:03,277['  ]| But if with their unlike they attempt to mix, 
269:03,278['  ]| Their rude congressions every thing unfix; 
269:03,279['  ]| Darkness again invades the troubled skies, 
269:03,280['  ]| Earth trembling, under angry heaven lies; 
269:03,281['  ]| The Sea, swoln high with rage, comes to the shore 
269:03,282['  ]| And swallows that, which it but kist before; 
269:03,283['  ]| Th' unbounded fire breaks forth with dreadful light, 
269:03,284['  ]| And horrid cracks which dying nature fright, 
269:03,285['  ]| Till that high power, which all powers regulates, 
269:03,286['  ]| The disagreeing natures separates, 
269:03,287['  ]| The like to like rejoyning as before, 
269:03,288['  ]| So the worlds peace, joy, safety doth restore.  
269:03,289['  ]| Yet if man could not find in bird or brute 
269:03,290['  ]| That conversation which might aptly suit 
269:03,291['  ]| His higher nature, was it not sublime 
269:03,292['  ]| Enough, above the lower world to climb, 
269:03,293['  ]| And in Angelick converse to delight, 
269:03,294['  ]| Although it could not reach the supreme height?  
269:03,295['  ]| No; for though man partake intelligence, 
269:03,296['  ]| Yet that being joyn'd to an inferiour sense, 
269:03,297['  ]| Dull'd by corporeal vapours, cannot be 
269:03,298['  ]| Refin'd enough for angels company:  
269:03,299['  ]| As strings screw'd up too high, as bows still bent 
269:03,300['  ]| Or break themselves, or crack the instrument; 
269:03,301['  ]| So drops neglected flesh into the grave, 
269:03,302['  ]| If it no share in the souls pleasures have.  
269:03,379['  ]| Extended Power reaches it self a crown, 
269:03,380['  ]| Gathering up those whom misery casts down.  
269:03,381['  ]| Love raiseth us, it self to heaven doth rise, 
269:03,382['  ]| By vertues varied mutual exercise.  
269:03,383['  ]| Sweet love, the life of life, which cannot shine, 
269:03,384['  ]| But lies like Gold concealed in the Mine, 
269:03,385['  ]| Till it through much exchange a brightness take 
269:03,386['  ]| And Conversation doth it current make.  
269:03,387['  ]| God having shew'd his creature thus the need 
269:03,388['  ]| Of humane helps, a help for man decreed:  
269:03,389['  ]| I will, said he, the mans meet aid provide.  
269:03,390['  ]| But that he from his waking view might hide 
269:03,391['  ]| Such a mysterious work, the Lord did keep 
269:03,392['  ]| All \Adam's\ senses fast lock'd up in sleep.  
269:03,393['  ]| Then from his open'd side took without pain 
269:03,394['  ]| A cloathed rib, and clos'd the flesh again, 
269:03,395['  ]| And of the bone did a fair virgin frame 
269:03,396['  ]| Who, by her Maker brought, to \Adam\ came 
269:03,397['  ]| And was in matrimonial Union joyn'd, 
269:03,398['  ]| By love and nature happily combin'd.  
269:03,399['  ]| \Adam's\ clear understanding at first view 
269:03,400['  ]| His wives original and nature knew; 
269:03,401['  ]| His will, as pure, did thankfully embrace, 
269:03,402['  ]| His fathers bounty, and admir'd his grace.  
269:03,403['  ]| And as her sweet charms did his heart surprise 
269:03,404['  ]| He spoke his joy in these glad ecstacies, 
269:03,405[C  ]| Thou art my better self, my flesh, my bone, 
269:03,406[C  ]| We late of one made two, again in one 
269:03,407[C  ]| Shall reunite, and with the frequent birth 
269:03,408[C  ]| Of our joynt issue, people the vast earth.  
269:03,409[C  ]| To shew that thou wert taken out of me 
269:03,410[C  ]| \Isba\ shall be thy name; As unto thee 
269:03,411[C  ]| Ravisht with love and joy my soul doth cleave, 
269:03,412[C  ]| So men hereafter shall their fathers leave, 
269:03,413[C  ]| And all relations else, which are most dear, 
269:03,414[C  ]| That they may only to their wives adhere; 
269:03,415[C  ]| When marriage male and female doth combine 
269:03,416[C  ]| Children in one flesh shall two parents joyn.  
269:03,417['  ]| Lastly, God, who the sacred knot had tied, 
269:03,418['  ]| With blessing his own Ordinance sanctified, 
269:03,419[A  ]| Encrease, 
269:03,419['  ]| said he, 
269:03,419[A  ]| and multiply your race, 
269:03,420[A  ]| Fill th' Earth allotted for your dwelling place, 
269:03,421[A  ]| I give you right to all her fruits and plants, 
269:03,422[A  ]| Dominion over her inhabitants; 
269:03,423[A  ]| The fish that in the floods deep bosome lie, 
269:03,424[A  ]| All Fowls that in the airy region flie, 
269:03,425[A  ]| Whatever lives and feeds on the dry land, 
269:03,426[A  ]| Are all made subject under your command.  
269:03,427[A  ]| The grass and green herbs let your cattle eat, 
269:03,428[A  ]| And let the richer fruits be your own meat, 
269:03,429[A  ]| Except the Tree of knowing good and ill, 
269:03,430[A  ]| That by the precept of my Soveraign will 
269:03,431[A  ]| You must not eat, for in the day you do, 
269:03,432[A  ]| Inevitable death shall seize on you.  
269:03,433['  ]| Thus God did the first marriage celebrate 
269:03,434['  ]| While man was in his unpolluted state, 
269:03,435['  ]| And th' undefiled bed with honour deckt, 
269:03,436['  ]| Though perverse men the Ordinance reject, 
269:03,437['  ]| And pulling all its sacred Ensigns down 
269:03,438['  ]| To the white Virgin only give the crown.  
269:03,439['  ]| Nor yet is marriage grown less sacred since 
269:03,440['  ]| Man fell from his created excellence, 
269:03,441['  ]| Necessity now raises its esteem, 
269:03,442['  ]| Which doth mankind from deaths vast jaws redeem, 
269:03,443['  ]| Who even in their graves are yet alive, 
269:03,444['  ]| While they in their posterity survive.  
269:03,445['  ]| In it they find a comfort and an aid, 
269:03,446['  ]| In all the ills which humane life invade.  
269:03,447['  ]| This curbs and cures wild passions that arise, 
269:03,448['  ]| Repairs time daily wasts, with new supplies; 
269:03,449['  ]| When the declining mothers youthful grace 
269:03,450['  ]| Lies dead and buried in her wrinkled face, 
269:03,451['  ]| In her fair daughters it revives and grows, 
269:03,452['  ]| And her dead Cinder in their new flames glows.  
269:03,453['  ]| And though this state may sometimes prove accurst, 
269:03,454['  ]| For of best things, still the corruption's worst, 
269:03,455['  ]| Sin so destroys an institution good, 
269:03,456['  ]| Provided against death and solitude.  
269:03,457['  ]| \Eve\ out of sleeping \Adam\ formed thus 
269:03,458['  ]| A sweet instructive emblem is to us, 
269:03,459['  ]| How waking Providence is active still 
269:03,460['  ]| To do us good, and to avert our ill, 
269:03,461['  ]| When we lock'd up in stupefaction lie, 
269:03,462['  ]| Not dreaming that our blessings are so nigh.  
269:03,463['  ]| Blessings wrought out by providence alone 
269:03,464['  ]| Without the least assistance of our own.  
269:03,465['  ]| Mans help produc'd in death-like sleep doth show, 
269:03,466['  ]| Our choicest mercies out of dead wombs flow.  
269:03,467['  ]| So from the second \Adams\ bleeding side 
269:03,468['  ]| God form'd the Gospel Church his mystique Bride, 
269:03,469['  ]| Whose strength was only of his firmness made, 
269:03,470['  ]| His blood, quick spirits into ours convey'd:  
269:03,471['  ]| His wasted flesh our wasted flesh supplied, 
269:03,472['  ]| And we were then revived when he died.  
269:03,473['  ]| Who wak'd from that short sleep with joy did view 
269:03,474['  ]| The virgin fair that out of his wounds grew, 
269:03,475['  ]| Presented by th' eternal Fathers grace 
269:03,476['  ]| Unto his everlasting kind embrace:  
269:03,477[B  ]| My spouse, my sister, 
269:03,477['  ]| said he, 
269:03,477[B  ]| thou art mine; 
269:03,478[B  ]| I and my death, I and my life are thine; 
269:03,479[B  ]| For thee I did my heavenly Father quit 
269:03,480[B  ]| That thou with me on my high throne mayst sit, 
269:03,481[B  ]| My mothers humane flesh in death did leave 
269:03,482[B  ]| For thee, that I to thee might only cleave, 
269:03,483[B  ]| Redeem thee from the confines of dark hell, 
269:03,484[B  ]| And evermore in thy dear bosome dwell:  
269:03,485[B  ]| From heaven I did descend to fetch up thee, 
269:03,486[B  ]| Rose from the grave that thou mightst reign with me.  
269:03,487[B  ]| Henceforth no longer two but one we are.  
269:03,488[B  ]| Thou dost my merit, life, grace, glory share:  
269:03,489[B  ]| As my victorious triumphs are all thine, 
269:03,490[B  ]| So are thy injuries and sufferings mine, 
269:03,491[B  ]| Which I for thee will vanquish as my own, 
269:03,492['  ]| And give thee rest in the celestial throne:  
269:03,493['  ]| The Bride with these caresses entertain'd 
269:03,494['  ]| In naked beauty doth before him stand, 
269:03,495['  ]| And knows no shame purg'd from all foul desire 
269:03,496['  ]| Whose secret guilt kindles the blushing fire.  
269:03,497['  ]| Her glorious Lord is naked too, no more 
269:03,498['  ]| Conceal'd in types and shadows as before.  
269:03,499['  ]| So our first parents innocently did 
269:03,500['  ]| Behold that nakedness which since is hid, 
269:03,501['  ]| That lust may not catch fire from beauties flame 
269:03,502['  ]| Engendring thoughts which die the cheeks with shame, 
269:03,503['  ]| Thus heaven and earth their full perfection had, 
269:03,504['  ]| Thus all their hosts and ornaments were made, 
269:03,505['  ]| Armies of Angels had the highest place, 
269:03,506['  ]| Bright starry hosts the lower heaven did grace, 
269:03,507['  ]| The Mutes encamped in the waters were, 
269:03,508['  ]| The winged troops were quartered in the air, 
269:03,509['  ]| The walking animals, as th' infantry 
269:03,510['  ]| Of th' Universal Host, at large did lie 
269:03,511['  ]| Spread over all the earths most ample face, 
269:03,512['  ]| Each regiment in its assigned place.  
269:03,513['  ]| Paradise the head quarter was, and there 
269:03,514['  ]| The Emperour to his Viceroy did appear, 
269:03,515['  ]| Him in his regal Office did install, 
269:03,516['  ]| A general muster of his hosts did call, 
269:03,517['  ]| Resigning up into his sole command 
269:03,518['  ]| The numerous Tribes, that fill doth sea and land.  
269:03,519['  ]| As each kind severally had before 
269:03,520['  ]| Blessing and approbation, so once more, 
269:03,521['  ]| When all together God his works review'd, 
269:03,522['  ]| The blessing was confirmed and renew'd.  
269:03,523['  ]| And with the sixth day the Creation ceast.  
269:03,524['  ]| The seventh day the Lord himself did rest, 
269:03,525['  ]| And made it a perpetual Ordinance then 
269:03,526['  ]| To be observ'd by every age of men, 
269:03,527['  ]| That after six days honest labour they 
269:03,528['  ]| His precept and example should obey, 
269:03,529['  ]| As he did his, their works surcease, and spend 
269:03,530['  ]| That day in sacred rest, till that day end, 
269:03,531['  ]| And in its number back again return, 
269:03,532['  ]| Still consecrated, till it have outworn 
269:03,533['  ]| All other time, and that alone remain, 
269:03,534['  ]| When neither toyl, nor burthen, shall again 
269:03,535['  ]| The weary lives of mortal men infest, 
269:03,536['  ]| Nor intermit their holy, happy rest.  
269:03,537['  ]| Nor is this Rest sacred to idleness, 
269:03,538['  ]| God, a perpetual Act, sloth cannot bless.  
269:03,539['  ]| He ceast not from his own celestial joy, 
269:03,540['  ]| Which doth himself perpetually employ 
269:03,541['  ]| In contemplation of himself, and those 
269:03,542['  ]| Most excellent works, wherein himself he shows; 
269:03,543['  ]| He only ceast from making lower things, 
269:03,544['  ]| By which, as steps, the mounting soul he brings 
269:03,545['  ]| To th' upmost height, and having finisht these 
269:03,546['  ]| Himself did in his own productions please, 
269:03,547['  ]| Full satisfied in their perfection, 
269:03,548['  ]| Rested from what he had compleatly done; 
269:03,549['  ]| And made his pattern our instruction, 
269:03,550['  ]| That we, as far as finite creatures may 
269:03,551['  ]| Trace him that's infinite, should in our way 
269:03,552['  ]| Rest as our Father did, work as he wrought, 
269:03,553['  ]| Nor cease till we have to perfection brought 
269:03,554['  ]| Whatever to his glory we intend, 
269:03,555['  ]| Still making ours, the same which was his end:  
269:03,556['  ]| As his works in commands begin, and have 
269:03,557['  ]| Conclusion in the blessings which he gave, 
269:03,558['  ]| So must his Word give being to all ours; 
269:03,559['  ]| And since th' events are not in our own powers, 
269:03,560['  ]| We must his blessing beg, his great name bless, 
269:03,561['  ]| And make our thanks the crown of our success.  
269:03,562['  ]| As God first heaven did for man prepare, 
269:03,563['  ]| Men last for heaven created were, 
269:03,564['  ]| So should we all our actions regulate, 
269:03,565['  ]| Which heaven, both first and last, should terminate, 
269:03,566['  ]| And in whatever circle else they run, 
269:03,567['  ]| There should they end, there should they be begun, 
269:03,568['  ]| There seek their pattern, and derive from thence 
269:03,569['  ]| Their whole direction and their influence.  
269:03,570['  ]| As when th' Almighty this low world did frame, 
269:03,571['  ]| Life by degrees to its perfection came, 
269:03,572['  ]| In Vegetation first sprung up, to sense 
269:03,573['  ]| Ascended next, and climb'd to reason thence, 
269:03,574['  ]| So we, pursuing our attainments, should 
269:03,575['  ]| Press forward from what's positively good, 
269:03,576['  ]| Still climbing higher, until we reach the best, 
269:03,577['  ]| And that acquir'd for ever fix our rest.  
269:03,578['  ]| Our souls so ravisht with the joys divine 
269:03,579['  ]| That they no more to creatures can decline.  
269:03,580['  ]| As Gods Rest was but a more high retreat 
269:03,581['  ]| From the delights of this inferiour seat, 
269:03,582['  ]| So must our souls upon our Sabbaths climb, 
269:03,583['  ]| Above the world, sequestred for that time, 
269:03,584['  ]| From those legitimate delights, which may 
269:03,585['  ]| Rejoyce us here upon a common day.  
269:03,586['  ]| As God, his works compleated, did retire 
269:03,587['  ]| To be ador'd by the Angelick Quire, 
269:03,588['  ]| So when on us the seventh days light doth shine, 
269:03,589['  ]| Should we our selves to Gods assemblies joyn, 
269:03,590['  ]| Thither all hearts, as one pure offspring, bring 
269:03,591['  ]| And all with one accord adore our King.  
269:03,592['  ]| This seventh day the Lord to mankind gave, 
269:03,593['  ]| Nor is it the least priviledge we have.  
269:03,594['  ]| And ours peculiarly.  The Orbs above 
269:03,595['  ]| As well the seventh as the sixth day move, 
269:03,596['  ]| The rain descends and the fierce tempest blows, 
269:03,597['  ]| On it the restless Ocean ebbs and flows:  
269:03,598['  ]| Bees that day fill the hive, and on that day 
269:03,599['  ]| Ants their provisions in their store-house lay, 
269:03,600['  ]| All creatures plie their works, no beast 
269:03,601['  ]| But those which mankind use, share in that rest:  
269:03,602['  ]| Which God indulg'd only to humane race, 
269:03,603['  ]| That they in it might come before his face 
269:03,604['  ]| To celebrate his worship and his praise, 
269:03,605['  ]| And gain a blessing upon all their days.  
269:03,606['  ]| O wretched souls of perverse men, who slight 
269:03,607['  ]| So great a grace, refuse such rich delight, 
269:03,608['  ]| Which the inferiour creatures cannot share, 
269:03,609['  ]| To which alone their natures fitted are, 
269:03,610['  ]| And whereby favour'd men admitted be 
269:03,611['  ]| Into the angels blest societie.  
269:03,612['  ]| Yet in this Rest but a far distant view 
269:03,613['  ]| Of that celestial life which we pursue, 
269:03,614['  ]| By Satan oft so interrupted here, 
269:03,615['  ]| That little of its glory doth appear, 
269:03,616['  ]| Nor can our souls sick, languid appetite 
269:03,617['  ]| Feast upon such substantial, strong delight 
269:03,618['  ]| As musick pains the grieved aking head, 
269:03,619['  ]| With which the healthful sense is sweetly fed; 
269:03,620['  ]| So duties wherein sound hearts full joys find, 
269:03,621['  ]| Fetters and sad loads are to a sick mind, 
269:03,622['  ]| Till it thereto by force it self inure, 
269:03,623['  ]| And from a loathing fall to love its cure.  
269:03,624['  ]| God for his worship kept one day of seven, 
269:03,625['  ]| The other six to man for mans use given; 
269:03,626['  ]| \Adam\, although so highly dignified, 
269:03,627['  ]| Was not to spend in idle ease and pride 
269:03,628['  ]| Nor supine sleep, drunk with his sensual pleasures, 
269:03,629['  ]| Profusely wasting th' Empires sacred treasures, 
269:03,630['  ]| As now his faln sons do, that arrogate 
269:03,631['  ]| His forfeited dominion, and high state; 
269:03,632['  ]| But God his dayly Business did ordain 
269:03,633['  ]| That Kings, hence taught, might in their Realms maintain 
269:03,634['  ]| Fair order, serving those whom they command, 
269:03,635['  ]| As guardians, not as owners of the land, 
269:03,636['  ]| Not being set there, to pluck up and destroy 
269:03,637['  ]| Those plants, whose culture should their cares employ.  
269:03,638['  ]| Nor doth this precept only Kings comprize, 
269:03,639['  ]| The meanest must his little paradise 
269:03,640['  ]| With no less vigilance and care attend 
269:03,641['  ]| Than Princes on their vast enclosures spend.  
269:03,642['  ]| All hence must learn their duty, to suppress 
269:03,643['  ]| Th' intrusions of a sordid idleness.  
269:03,644['  ]| Who form'd, could have preserv'd the garden fair 
269:03,645['  ]| Without th' employment of mans busie care, 
269:03,646['  ]| But that he will'd that our delight should be 
269:03,647['  ]| The wages of our constant industrie, 
269:03,648['  ]| That we his ever bounteous hand might bless 
269:03,649['  ]| Crowning our honest labours with success, 
269:03,650['  ]| And tast the joy men reap in their own fruit, 
269:03,651['  ]| Loving that more to which they contribute 
269:03,652['  ]| Either the labour of their hands or brains, 
269:03,653['  ]| Than better things produc'd by others pains.  
269:03,654['  ]| Led by desire, fed with fair hope, the fruit 
269:03,655['  ]| Oft-times delights not more than the pursuit.  
269:03,656['  ]| For man a nature hath to action prone, 
269:03,657['  ]| That languishes, and sickens finding none.  
269:03,658['  ]| As standing pools corrupt, water that flows, 
269:03,659['  ]| More pure, by its continual current, grows, 
269:03,660['  ]| So humane kind by active exercise, 
269:03,661['  ]| Do to the heights of their perfection rise, 
269:03,662['  ]| While their stock'd glory comes to no ripe growth, 
269:03,663['  ]| Whose lives corrupt in idleness and sloth 
269:03,664['  ]| Which is not natural, but a disease, 
269:03,665['  ]| That doth upon the flesh-cloy'd spirit seize.  
269:03,666['  ]| Where health untainted is, then the sound mind 
269:03,667['  ]| In its employment doth its pleasures find.  
269:03,668['  ]| But when death, or its representer sleep 
269:03,669['  ]| Upon the mortals tired members creep, 
269:03,670['  ]| This during its dull reign doth life suspend, 
269:03,671['  ]| That ceasing action, puts it to an end.  
269:03,672['  ]| Lastly since God himself did man employ 
269:03,673['  ]| To dress up Paradise, that moderate joy 
269:03,674['  ]| Which from this fair creation we derive, 
269:03,675['  ]| Is not our sin but our prerogative, 
269:03,676['  ]| If bounded so, as we fix not our rest 
269:03,677['  ]| In creatures which but transient are at best, 
269:03,678['  ]| Yet 'tis sin to neglect, not use, or prize, 
269:03,679['  ]| As well as 'tis to wast and idolize.  
269:04,000['  ]| <Canto IV.> 
269:04,001['  ]| GOod were all natures as God made them all, 
269:04,002['  ]| Good was his Will permitting some to fall, 
269:04,003['  ]| That th' rest renouncing their frail strength might stand:  
269:04,004['  ]| Humble and firm in his supporting hand, 
269:04,005['  ]| His wisdome and omnipotence might own, 
269:04,006['  ]| When his Foes power and craft is overthrown, 
269:04,007['  ]| Seeing his hate of sin, might thence confess 
269:04,008['  ]| His pure innate and perfect Holiness, 
269:04,009['  ]| And that the glory of his Justice might 
269:04,010['  ]| In the Rebels torturing flames seem bright.  
269:04,011['  ]| That th' ever bless'd Redeemer might take place 
269:04,012['  ]| To illustrate his rich mercy and free grace 
269:04,013['  ]| Whereby he fallen sinners doth restore 
269:04,014['  ]| To fuller bliss than they enjoy'd before; 
269:04,015['  ]| That Vertue might in its clear brightness shine 
269:04,016['  ]| Which like rich ore concealed in the mine 
269:04,017['  ]| Had not been known, but that opposing vice 
269:04,018['  ]| Illustrates it by frequent exercise.  
269:04,019['  ]| If all were good, whence then arose the ill?  
269:04,020['  ]| 'Twas not in Gods, but in the creatures will, 
269:04,021['  ]| Averting from that good, which is supream, 
269:04,022['  ]| Corrupted so, as a declining stream 
269:04,023['  ]| That breaks off its communion with its head, 
269:04,024['  ]| By whom its life and sweetness late were fed, 
269:04,025['  ]| Turns to a noisome, dead, and poysonous Lake, 
269:04,026['  ]| Infecting all who the foul waters take:  
269:04,027['  ]| Or as a Branch cut from the living Tree, 
269:04,028['  ]| Passes into contempt immediately, 
269:04,029['  ]| And dies divided from its glorious flock; 
269:04,030['  ]| So strength disjoyned from the living rock, 
269:04,031['  ]| Turns to contemned imbecillity, 
269:04,032['  ]| And doth to all its grace and glory die.  
269:04,033['  ]| Some new-made Angels thus, no more sublime 
269:04,034['  ]| In nature, than transcending in their crime, 
269:04,035['  ]| Quitting th' eternal fountain of their light, 
269:04,036['  ]| Became the first-born sons of woe and night, 
269:04,037['  ]| Princes of Darkness, and the sad Abysse, 
269:04,038['  ]| Which now their cursed place and portion is, 
269:04,039['  ]| Where they no more must see Gods glorious face 
269:04,040['  ]| Nor ever taste of his refreshing grace, 
269:04,041['  ]| But in the fire of his fierce anger dwell, 
269:04,042['  ]| Which though it burns, enlightens not their Hell.  
269:04,043['  ]| But circumstances that we cannot know 
269:04,044['  ]| Of their rebellion and their overthrow 
269:04,045['  ]| We will not dare t'invent, nor will we take 
269:04,046['  ]| Guesses from the reports themselves did make 
269:04,047['  ]| To their old Priests, to whom they did devise 
269:04,048['  ]| To inspire some truths, wrapt up in many lies; 
269:04,049['  ]| Such as their gross poetick fables are, 
269:04,050['  ]| \Saturn's\ extrusion, the bold giants war, 
269:04,051['  ]| Division of the universal realm, 
269:04,052['  ]| To Gods that in high heaven steer the helm, 
269:04,053['  ]| Others who all things in the Ocean guide, 
269:04,054['  ]| And those who in th' infernal Court preside, 
269:04,055['  ]| Who there a vast and gloomy Empire sway, 
269:04,056['  ]| Whom all the Furies and the Ghosts obey.  
269:04,057['  ]| But not to name these foolish impious tales, 
269:04,058['  ]| Which stifle truth in her pretended veils, 
269:04,059['  ]| Let us in its own blazing conduct go, 
269:04,060['  ]| And look no further than that light doth show; 
269:04,061['  ]| Wherein we see the present powers of hell, 
269:04,062['  ]| Before they under Gods displeasure fell, 
269:04,063['  ]| Were once ensued with grace and excellence, 
269:04,064['  ]| Beyond the comprehension of our sense, 
269:04,065['  ]| Pure holy lights in the bright heaven were 
269:04,066['  ]| Blazing about the throne, but not fixt there; 
269:04,067['  ]| Where, by the Apostasie of their own will, 
269:04,068['  ]| Precipitating them into all ill, 
269:04,069['  ]| And Gods just wrath, whose eyes are far too pure 
269:04,070['  ]| Stain'd and polluted objects to endure, 
269:04,071['  ]| They fell like lightning, hurl'd in his fierce ire, 
269:04,072['  ]| And falling, set the lower world on fire:  
269:04,073['  ]| Which their loose prison is where they remain, 
269:04,074['  ]| And walk as criminals under Gods chain; 
269:04,075['  ]| Until the last and great assizes come, 
269:04,076['  ]| When Execution shall seal up their doom.  
269:04,077['  ]| Thus are they now to their created light, 
269:04,078['  ]| Unto all Truth, and Goodness opposite, 
269:04,079['  ]| Hating the Peace and Joy that reigns above, 
269:04,080['  ]| Vainly contending to extinguish love, 
269:04,081['  ]| Ruine Gods sacred Empire, and destroy 
269:04,082['  ]| That blessedness they never can enjoy.  
269:04,083['  ]| A Chief they have, whose Soveraign power and place 
269:04,084['  ]| But adds to' his sin, his torture, and disgrace.  
269:04,085['  ]| An order too there is in their dire state, 
269:04,086['  ]| Though they all Orders else disturb and hate.  
269:04,087['  ]| Ten thousand thousand wicked spirits stand, 
269:04,088['  ]| Attending their black Prince, at his command, 
269:04,089['  ]| To all imaginable evils prest, 
269:04,090['  ]| That may promote their common interest.  
269:04,091['  ]| Nor are they linked thus by faith and love, 
269:04,092['  ]| But hate of God and goodness, which doth move 
269:04,093['  ]| The same endeavours and desires in all, 
269:04,094['  ]| Lest civil wars should make their Empire fall.  
269:04,095['  ]| An Empire which the Almighty doth permit, 
269:04,096['  ]| Yet so as he controlls and limits it.  
269:04,097['  ]| Suffering their rage sometimes to take effect, 
269:04,098['  ]| Only to be the more severely checkt; 
269:04,099['  ]| When he produces a contrary end, 
269:04,100['  ]| From what they did malitiously intend, 
269:04,101['  ]| Befools their wisdome, crosses their designs, 
269:04,102['  ]| And blows them up in their own crafty mines, 
269:04,103['  ]| Allows them play in the entangling net, 
269:04,104['  ]| So to be faster in damnation set, 
269:04,105['  ]| Submits them to each others tyrannies, 
269:04,106['  ]| Who did Gods softer sacred bonds despise, 
269:04,107['  ]| Lets them still fight, who never can prevail, 
269:04,108['  ]| More curs'd if they succeed, than if they fail, 
269:04,109['  ]| Since every soul the Rebels gain from God, 
269:04,110['  ]| Adds but another Scorpion to that rod, 
269:04,111['  ]| Bound up, that they may mutual torturers be, 
269:04,112['  ]| Tormented and tormenting equally.  
269:04,113['  ]| As a wise General that doth design 
269:04,114['  ]| To keep his Army still in discipline, 
269:04,115['  ]| Suffers the embodying of some slighter foes, 
269:04,116['  ]| Which he at his own pleasure can enclose, 
269:04,117['  ]| And vanquish, that he justly may chastise 
269:04,118['  ]| Their folly, and his own troops exercise, 
269:04,119['  ]| Their vigilance, their faith and valour prove; 
269:04,120['  ]| Endearing them thereby to his own love, 
269:04,121['  ]| As he alike endears himself to theirs, 
269:04,122['  ]| By his continual succours and kind cares:  
269:04,123['  ]| So the Almighty gives the Devils scope, 
269:04,124['  ]| Who though they are excluded from all hope 
269:04,125['  ]| Of e're escaping, no reluctance have, 
269:04,126['  ]| But like the desperate villain they make brave, 
269:04,127['  ]| To death pursue their bold attempts, that all 
269:04,128['  ]| O're whom they cannot reign, with them may fall.  
269:04,129['  ]| And tho' Gods watchful guards besiege them round 
269:04,130['  ]| That none can pass their strict prescribed bound, 
269:04,131['  ]| Yet make they daily sallies in their pride, 
269:04,132['  ]| Which still repulst the holy host deride.  
269:04,133['  ]| Their malice in it self and its event, 
269:04,134['  ]| Being equally a crime and punishment.  
269:04,135['  ]| Thus though sin in it self be ill, 'tis good 
269:04,136['  ]| That sin should be, for thereby rectitude 
269:04,137['  ]| Thorough oppos'd iniquity, as light 
269:04,138['  ]| By shades, is more conspicuous and more bright.  
269:04,139['  ]| The wonderful creation of mankind, 
269:04,140['  ]| For lasting glory and rich grace design'd, 
269:04,141['  ]| The blessed angels look'd on with delight, 
269:04,142['  ]| Gladded to see us climb so near their height; 
269:04,143['  ]| Above all other works, next in degree, 
269:04,144['  ]| And capable of their societie.  
269:04,145['  ]| But 'twas far otherwise with those that fell 
269:04,146['  ]| Mans destin'd heaven, encreas'd their hell, 
269:04,147['  ]| While they burnt with a proud malitious spite 
269:04,148['  ]| To see a new-made, earth-born favourite, 
269:04,149['  ]| For their high seats and empty thrones design'd; 
269:04,150['  ]| Therefore both against God and man combin'd, 
269:04,151['  ]| To hinder Gods decree from taking place, 
269:04,152['  ]| And to devest man of his Makers grace; 
269:04,153['  ]| Which while he in a pure obedience stood, 
269:04,154['  ]| They knew, not all their force nor cunning cou'd, 
269:04,155['  ]| But if they could with any false pretence 
269:04,156['  ]| Inveigle him to quit his innocence, 
269:04,157['  ]| They hop'd death would present the dreaded womb 
269:04,158['  ]| From whence their happier successors must come.  
269:04,159['  ]| Wherefore th' accursed Soveraign of hell 
269:04,160['  ]| Thinking no other Devil could so well 
269:04,161['  ]| Act this ill part, whose consequence was high 
269:04,162['  ]| Enough to engage his hateful majesty, 
269:04,163['  ]| Himself exposes for the common cause, 
269:04,164['  ]| And with his hellish kingdomes full applause, 
269:04,165['  ]| Goes forth, putting himself into disguise, 
269:04,166['  ]| And so within a bright scal'd serpent lies, 
269:04,167['  ]| Folded about the fair forbidden tree, 
269:04,168['  ]| Watching a wish'd for opportunitie, 
269:04,169['  ]| Which \Eve\ soon gave him, coming there alone 
269:04,170['  ]| So to be first and easier overthrown; 
269:04,171['  ]| On whose weak side, th' assault had not been made 
269:04,172['  ]| Had she not from her firm protection stray'd; 
269:04,173['  ]| But so the Devil then, so leud men now 
269:04,174['  ]| Prevail, when women privacies allow, 
269:04,175['  ]| And to those flatt'ring whispers lend an ear 
269:04,176['  ]| Which even impudence it self would fear 
269:04,177['  ]| To utter in the presence of a friend, 
269:04,178['  ]| Whose vertuous awe our frailty might defend.  
269:04,179['  ]| Though unexperience might excuse \Eves\ fault, 
269:04,180['  ]| Yet those who now give way to an assault, 
269:04,181['  ]| By suffring it alone, none can exempt 
269:04,182['  ]| From the just blame that they their tempters tempt, 
269:04,183['  ]| And by vain confidence themselves betray, 
269:04,184['  ]| Fondly secure in a known desperate way.  
269:04,185['  ]| As \Eve\ stood near the tree, the subtile beast, 
269:04,186['  ]| By Satan mov'd, his speech to her addrest 
269:04,187[E  ]| Hath God, 
269:04,187['  ]| said he, 
269:04,187[E  ]| forbid that you should tast 
269:04,188[E  ]| These pleasant fruits, which in your eyes are plac't, 
269:04,189[E  ]| Why are the tempting boughs expos'd, if you 
269:04,190[E  ]| May not delight your palates with your view?  
269:04,191[D  ]| God, 
269:04,191['  ]| said the woman, 
269:04,191[D  ]| gives us libertie 
269:04,192[D  ]| To eat without restraint of every tree 
269:04,193[D  ]| Which in the garden grows, but only one; 
269:04,194[D  ]| Restrain'd by such a prohibition, 
269:04,195[D  ]| We dare not touch it, for when e're we do 
269:04,196[D  ]| A certain death will our offence ensue.  
269:04,197['  ]| Then did the wicked subtile beast replie, 
269:04,198[E  ]| Ah simple wretch, you shall not surely die, 
269:04,199[E  ]| God enviously to you this fruit denies, 
269:04,200[E  ]| He knows that eating it, will make you wise, 
269:04,201[E  ]| Of good and ill give you discerning sense, 
269:04,202[E  ]| And raise you to a god-like excellence.  
269:04,203['  ]| \Eve\ quickly caught in the foul hunters net, 
269:04,204['  ]| Believ'd that death was only a vain threat, 
269:04,205['  ]| Her unbelief quenching religious dread 
269:04,206['  ]| Infectious counsel in her bosome bred, 
269:04,207['  ]| Dissatisfaction with her present state 
269:04,208['  ]| And fond ambition of a godlike height.  
269:04,209['  ]| Who now applies herself to its pursuit, 
269:04,210['  ]| With longing eyes looks on the lovely fruit, 
269:04,211['  ]| First nicely plucks, then eats with full delight, 
269:04,212['  ]| And gratifies her murderous appetite; 
269:04,213['  ]| Poyson'd with the sweet relish of her sin, 
269:04,214['  ]| Before her inward torturing pangs begin, 
269:04,215['  ]| The pleasure to her husband she commends, 
269:04,216['  ]| And he by her persuasion too offends, 
269:04,217['  ]| As by the serpents she before had done.  
269:04,218['  ]| Hence learn pernicious councellors to shun.  
269:04,219['  ]| Within the snake the crafty tempter smil'd 
269:04,220['  ]| To see mankind so easily beguil'd, 
269:04,221['  ]| But laugh not Satan, God shall thee deride, 
269:04,222['  ]| The Son of God and Man shall scourge thy pride, 
269:04,223['  ]| And in the time of vengeance shall exact 
269:04,224['  ]| A punishment on thee, for this accursed fact.  
269:04,225['  ]| Now wrought the poyson on the guilty pair, 
269:04,226['  ]| Who with confusion on each other stare, 
269:04,227['  ]| While death possession takes, and enters in 
269:04,228['  ]| At the wide breach, laid open by their sin.  
269:04,229['  ]| Sound health and joy before th' intruder fled, 
269:04,230['  ]| Sickness and sorrow coming in their stead.  
269:04,231['  ]| Their late sweet calm did now for ever cease, 
269:04,232['  ]| Storms in all quarters drove away their peace; 
269:04,233['  ]| Dread, guilt, remorse in the benighted soul, 
269:04,234['  ]| Like raging billows on each other rowl; 
269:04,235['  ]| Deaths harbingers waste in each province make, 
269:04,236['  ]| While thundring terrours mans whole Island shake.  
269:04,237['  ]| Within, without, disorder'd in the storm, 
269:04,238['  ]| The colour fades, and tremblings change the form, 
269:04,239['  ]| Heat melts their substance, cold their joynts benumbs, 
269:04,240['  ]| Dull languishment their vigour overcomes.  
269:04,241['  ]| Grief conquer'd beauty lays down all her arms, 
269:04,242['  ]| And mightier woe dissolves her late strong charms, 
269:04,243['  ]| Shame doth their looks deject, no chearful grace, 
269:04,244['  ]| No pleasant smiles, appear in their sad face, 
269:04,245['  ]| They see themselves fool'd, cheated, and betray'd, 
269:04,246['  ]| And naked in the view of heaven made; 
269:04,247['  ]| No glory compasses the drooping head, 
269:04,248['  ]| The sight of their own ugliness they dread, 
269:04,249['  ]| And curtains of broad, thin Fig-leaves devise 
269:04,250['  ]| To hide themselves from their own weeping eyes; 
269:04,251['  ]| But, Ah, these coverings were too slight and thin 
269:04,252['  ]| To ward their shame oft, or to keep out sin, 
269:04,253['  ]| Or the keen airs quick piercing shafts, which through 
269:04,254['  ]| Both leaves and pores into the bowels flew.  
269:04,255['  ]| While they remain'd in their pure innocence 
269:04,256['  ]| It was their robe of glory and defence:  
269:04,257['  ]| But when sin tore that mantle off, they found 
269:04,258['  ]| Their members were all naked, all uncrown'd; 
269:04,259['  ]| Their purity in every place defil'd, 
269:04,260['  ]| Their vest of righteousness all torn and spoyl'd.  
269:04,261['  ]| Wherefore, through guilt, the late lov'd light they shun, 
269:04,262['  ]| And into the obscurest shadow run; 
269:04,263['  ]| But in no darkness can their quiet find, 
269:04,264['  ]| Carrying within them a disturbed mind, 
269:04,265['  ]| Which doth their cureless folly represent, 
269:04,266['  ]| And makes them curse their late experiment; 
269:04,267['  ]| Wishing they had been pure and ignorant still, 
269:04,268['  ]| Nor coveted the knowledge of their ill.  
269:04,269['  ]| Ah thus it is that yet we learn our good, 
269:04,270['  ]| Till it be lost, but seldome understood, 
269:04,271['  ]| Rich blessings, while we have them, little prize 
269:04,272['  ]| Until their want their value magnifies.  
269:04,273['  ]| And equally doth our remorse encrease 
269:04,274['  ]| For having cast-away such happiness.  
269:04,275['  ]| O wretched man!  who at so dear a rate 
269:04,276['  ]| Purchas'd the knowledge of his own frail state, 
269:04,277['  ]| Knowledge of small advantage to the wise, 
269:04,278['  ]| Which only their affliction multiplies, 
269:04,279['  ]| While they in painful study vex their brain, 
269:04,280['  ]| Pursuing what they never can attain; 
269:04,281['  ]| And what would not avail them if acquir'd, 
269:04,282['  ]| Till at the length with fruitless labour tir'd, 
269:04,283['  ]| All that the learned and the wise can find 
269:04,284['  ]| Is but a vain disturbance of the mind, 
269:04,285['  ]| A sense of mans inevitable woes, 
269:04,286['  ]| Which he but little feels, who little knows; 
269:04,287['  ]| While mortals, holding on their error, still 
269:04,288['  ]| Pursue the knowledge both of good and ill, 
269:04,289['  ]| They neither of them perfectly attain, 
269:04,290['  ]| But in a dark tumultuous state remain; 
269:04,291['  ]| Till sense of ill, encreasing like nights shade, 
269:04,292['  ]| Or hath a blot of good impressions made, 
269:04,293['  ]| Or good, victorious as the morning light, 
269:04,294['  ]| Triumph over the vanquisht opposite:  
269:04,295['  ]| For both at once abide not in one place, 
269:04,296['  ]| Good knowledge flies from them who ill embrace.  
269:04,297['  ]| So were our parents fill'd with guilt and fear, 
269:04,298['  ]| When in the groves they Gods approaches hear, 
269:04,299['  ]| And from the terrour of his presence fled; 
269:04,300['  ]| Whether their own convictions caus'd their dread, 
269:05,000['  ]| <Canto V.> 
269:05,001['  ]| SAd Natures sighs gave the Alarms, 
269:05,002['  ]| And all her frighted hosts stood to their arms, 
269:05,003['  ]| Waiting whom the great Soveraign would employ 
269:05,004['  ]| His all deserted rebels to destroy:  
269:05,005['  ]| When God descended out of heaven above 
269:05,006['  ]| His disobedient Viceroy to remove.  
269:05,007['  ]| Yet though himself had seen the forfeiture, 
269:05,008['  ]| Which distance could not from his eyes obscure, 
269:05,009['  ]| To teach his future Substitutes how they 
269:05,010['  ]| Should judgements execute in a right way, 
269:05,011['  ]| He would not unexamin'd facts condemn, 
269:05,012['  ]| Nor punish sinners without hearing them.  
269:05,013['  ]| Therefore cites to his bar the Criminals, 
269:05,014['  ]| And \Adam\ first out of his covert calls, 
269:05,015[A  ]| Where art thou \Adam\?  
269:05,015['  ]| the Almighty said, 
269:05,016[C  ]| Here Lord, 
269:05,016['  ]| the trembling sinner answer made, 
269:05,017[C  ]| Amongst the trees I in the garden heard 
269:05,018[C  ]| Thy voice, and being naked was afeard, 
269:05,019[C  ]| Nor durst I so thy purer sight abide, 
269:05,020[C  ]| Therefore my self did in this shelter hide.  
269:05,021[A  ]| Hast thou 
269:05,021['  ]| (said God) 
269:05,021[A  ]| eat the forbidden tree, 
269:05,022[A  ]| Or who declar'd thy nakedness to thee?  
269:05,023[C  ]| She, 
269:05,023['  ]| answer'd \Adam\, 
269:05,023[C  ]| whom thou didst create 
269:05,024[C  ]| To be my helper and associate, 
269:05,025[C  ]| Gave me the fatal fruit, and I did eat; 
269:05,026['  ]| Then \Eve\ was also call'd from her retreat, 
269:05,027[A  ]| Woman what hast thou done?  
269:05,027['  ]| th' Almighty said; 
269:05,028[D  ]| Lord, 
269:05,028['  ]| answer'd she, 
269:05,028[D  ]| the serpent me betray'd, 
269:05,029[D  ]| And I did eat.  
269:05,029['  ]| Thus did they both confess 
269:05,030['  ]| Their guilt, and vainly sought to make it less, 
269:05,031['  ]| By such extenuations, as well weigh'd, 
269:05,032['  ]| The sin, so circumstanc'd, more sinful made:  
269:05,033['  ]| A course which still half softned sinners use, 
269:05,034['  ]| Transferring blame their own faults to excuse, 
269:05,035['  ]| They care not how, nor where, and oftentimes 
269:05,036['  ]| On God himself obliquely charge their crimes, 
269:05,037['  ]| Expostulating in their discontent, 
269:05,038['  ]| As if he caus'd what he did not prevent; 
269:05,039['  ]| Which \Adam\ wickedly implies, when he 
269:05,040['  ]| Cries, 
269:05,040[C  ]| 'Twas the woman \That thou gavest me\; 
269:05,041['  ]| Oft-times make that the devils guilt alone, 
269:05,042['  ]| Which was as well and equally their own.  
269:05,043['  ]| His lies could never have prevail'd on \Eve\ 
269:05,044['  ]| But that she wisht them truth, and did believe 
269:05,045['  ]| A forgery that suited her desire, 
269:05,046['  ]| Whose haughty heart was prone enough to' aspire.  
269:05,047['  ]| The tempting and the urging was his ill, 
269:05,048['  ]| But the compliance was in her own will.  
269:05,049['  ]| And herein truly lies the difference 
269:05,050['  ]| Of natural and gracious penitence, 
269:05,051['  ]| The first transferreth and extenuates 
269:05,052['  ]| The guilt, which the other owns and aggravates.  
269:05,053['  ]| Whi'e sin is but regarded slight and small, 
269:05,054['  ]| It makes the value of rich mercy fall, 
269:05,055['  ]| But as our crimes seem greater in our eyes, 
269:05,056['  ]| So doth our grateful sense of pardon rise.  
269:05,057['  ]| Poor mankind at Gods righteous bar was cast 
269:05,058['  ]| And set for judgement by, when at the last 
269:05,059['  ]| Satan within the serpent had his doom, 
269:05,060['  ]| Whose execrable malice left no room 
269:05,061['  ]| For plea or pardon, but was sentenc'd first; 
269:05,062[A  ]| Thou 
269:05,062['  ]| (said the Lord) 
269:05,062[A  ]| above all beasts accurst, 
269:05,063[A  ]| Shalt on thy belly creep, on dust shalt feed, 
########
269:05,064['  ]| Between thee and the woamn, and her seed 
269:05,065['  ]| And thine, I will put lasting enmity; 
269:05,066['  ]| Thou in this war his heel shalt bruise, but He 
269:05,067['  ]| Thy head shall break.  More various Mystery 
269:05,068['  ]| Ne'er did within so short a sentence lie.  
269:05,069['  ]| Here is irrevocable vengeance, here 
269:05,070['  ]| Love as immutable.  Here doth appear 
269:05,071['  ]| Infinite Wisdome plotting with free grace, 
269:05,072['  ]| Even by Mans Fall, th' advance of humane race.  
269:05,073['  ]| Severity here utterly confounds, 
269:05,074['  ]| Here Mercy cures by kind and gentle wounds, 
269:05,075['  ]| The Father here, the Gospel first reveals, 
269:05,076['  ]| Here fleshly veils th' eternal son conceals.  
269:05,077['  ]| The law of life and spirit here takes place, 
269:05,078['  ]| Given with the promise of assisting grace:  
269:05,079['  ]| Here is an Oracle fore-telling all, 
269:05,080['  ]| Which shall the two opposed seeds befall.  
269:05,081['  ]| The great war hath its first beginning here, 
269:05,082['  ]| Carried along more than five thousand year, 
269:05,083['  ]| With various success on either side, 
269:05,084['  ]| And each age with new combatants suppli'd:  
269:05,085['  ]| Two Soveraign Champions here we find, 
269:05,086['  ]| Satan and Christ contending for mankind.  
269:05,087['  ]| Two Empires here, two opposite Cities rise, 
269:05,088['  ]| Dividing all in two Societies.  
269:05,089['  ]| The little Church and the worlds larger State 
269:05,090['  ]| Pursuing it with ceaseless spite and hate.  
269:05,091['  ]| Each party here erecting their own walls, 
269:05,092['  ]| As one advances, so the other falls.  
269:05,093['  ]| Hope in the Promise the weak Church confirms, 
269:05,094['  ]| Hell and the world fight upon desperate terms, 
269:05,095['  ]| By this most certain Oracle they know, 
269:05,096['  ]| Their war must end in final overthrow.  
269:05,097['  ]| Some little present mischief they may do, 
269:05,098['  ]| And this with eager malice they pursue.  
269:05,099['  ]| The Angels whom Gods justice did divide, 
269:05,100['  ]| Engage their mighty powers on either side, 
269:05,101['  ]| Hells gloomy Princes the worlds rulers made, 
269:05,102['  ]| Heavens unseen host the Churches guard and aid.  
269:05,103['  ]| Till the frail womans conquering son shall tread 
269:05,104['  ]| Beneath his feet the serpents broken head; 
269:05,105['  ]| Though God the speech to mans false foe address, 
269:05,106['  ]| The words rich grace to fallen man express, 
269:05,107['  ]| Which God will not to him himself declare, 
269:05,108['  ]| Till he implore it by submissive prayer; 
269:05,109['  ]| Sufficient 'tis to know a latitude 
269:05,110['  ]| For hope, which doth no penitent exclude.  
269:05,111['  ]| Had deaths sad sentence past on man, before 
269:05,112['  ]| The promise of that seed which should restore 
269:05,113['  ]| His fallen state, destroying death and sin, 
269:05,114['  ]| Cureless as Satans had his misery been.  
269:05,115['  ]| But though free grace did future help provide, 
269:05,116['  ]| Yet must he present loss and woe abide; 
269:05,117['  ]| And feel the bitter curse, that he may so 
269:05,118['  ]| The sweet release of saving mercy know.  
269:05,119['  ]| Prepar'd with late indulged hope, on \Eve\ 
269:05,120['  ]| Th' almighty next did gentler sentence give.  
269:05,121['  ]| I will, said he, greatly augment thy woes, 
269:05,122['  ]| And thy conceptions, which with painful throes 
269:05,123['  ]| Thou shalt bring foth, yet shall they be to thee 
269:05,124['  ]| But a successive crop of misery.  
269:05,125['  ]| Thy husband shall thy ruler be, whose sway 
269:05,126['  ]| Thou shalt with passionate desires obey.  
269:05,127['  ]| Alas!  how sadly to this day we find 
269:05,128['  ]| Th' effect of this dire curse on womankind; 
269:05,129['  ]| \Eve\ sin'd in fruit forbid, and God requires 
269:05,130['  ]| Her pennance in the fruit of her desires.  
269:05,131['  ]| When first to men their inclinations move, 
269:05,132['  ]| How are they tortur'd with distracting love!  
269:05,133['  ]| What disappointments find they in the end; 
269:05,134['  ]| Constant uneasinesses which attend 
269:05,135['  ]| The best condition of the wedded state, 
269:05,136['  ]| Giving all wives sense of the curses weight, 
269:05,137['  ]| Which makes them ease and liberty refuse, 
269:05,138['  ]| And with strong passion their own shackles chuse:  
269:05,139['  ]| Now though they easier under wise rule prove, 
269:05,140['  ]| And every burthen is made light by love, 
269:05,141['  ]| yet golden fetters, soft lin'd yoaks still be, 
269:05,142['  ]| Thou gentler curbs, but curbs of liberty, 
269:05,143['  ]| As well as the harsh tyrants-iron yoak, 
269:05,144['  ]| More sorely galling them whom they provoke, 
269:05,145['  ]| To loath their bondage, and despise the rule 
269:05,146['  ]| Of an unmanly, fickle, froward fool.  
269:05,147['  ]| Whate're the husbands be, they covet fruit, 
269:05,148['  ]| And their own wishes to their sorrows contribute.  
269:05,149['  ]| How painfully the fruit within them grows, 
269:05,150['  ]| What tortures do their ripened births disclose, 
269:05,151['  ]| How great, how various, how uneasie are 
269:05,152['  ]| The breeding sicknesses, pangs that prepare 
269:05,153['  ]| The violent openings of lifes narrow door, 
269:05,154['  ]| Whose fatal issues we as oft deplore!  
269:05,155['  ]| What weaknesses, what languishments ensue, 
269:05,156['  ]| Scattering dead Lillies where fresh Roses grew.  
269:05,157['  ]| What broken rest afflicts the careful nurse, 
269:05,158['  ]| Extending to the breasts the mothers curse; 
269:05,159['  ]| Which ceases not when there her milk she dries, 
269:05,160['  ]| The froward child draws new streams from her eyes.  
269:05,161['  ]| How much more bitter anguish do we find 
269:05,162['  ]| Labouring to raise up vertue in the mind, 
269:05,163['  ]| Then when the members in our bowels grew, 
269:05,164['  ]| What sad abortions, what cross births ensue?  
269:05,165['  ]| What monsters, what unnatural vipers come 
269:05,166['  ]| Eating their passage through their parents womb; 
269:05,167['  ]| How are the tortures of their births renew'd, 
269:05,168['  ]| Unrecompenc'd with love and gratitude:  
269:05,169['  ]| Even the good, who would our cares requite, 
269:05,170['  ]| Would be our crowns, joys, pillars, and delight, 
269:05,171['  ]| Affect us yet with other griefs and fears, 
269:05,172['  ]| Opening the sluces of our ne'er dried tears, 
269:05,173['  ]| Death, danger, sickness, losses, all the ill 
269:05,174['  ]| That on the children falls, the mothers feel, 
269:05,175['  ]| Repeating with worse pangs, the pangs that bore 
269:05,176['  ]| Them into life, and though some may have more 
269:05,177['  ]| Of sweet and gentle mixture, some of worse, 
269:05,178['  ]| Yet every mothers cup tasts of the curse.  
269:05,179['  ]| And when the heavy load her faint heart tires, 
269:05,180['  ]| Makes her too oft repent her fond desires, 
269:05,181['  ]| Now hast of all, as \Adam\ last had been 
269:05,182['  ]| Drawn into the prevaricating sin, 
269:05,183['  ]| His sentence came:  Because that thou didst yield, 
269:05,184['  ]| (Said God) to thy enticing wife, the field 
269:05,185['  ]| Producing briars and fruitless thorns to thee, 
269:05,186['  ]| Accursed for thy sake and sins shall be.  
269:05,187['  ]| Thy careful brows in constant toyls shall sweat, 
269:05,188['  ]| Thus thou thy dread shalt all thy whole life eat, 
269:05,189['  ]| Till thou return into the earths vast womb; 
269:05,190['  ]| Whence, taken first, thou didst a man become; 
269:05,191['  ]| For dust thou art, and dust again shalt be 
269:05,192['  ]| When lifes declining spark goes out in thee.  
269:05,193['  ]| In all these Sentences we strangely find 
269:05,194['  ]| Gods admirable love to lost mankind; 
269:05,195['  ]| Who though he never will his word recal, 
269:05,196['  ]| Or let his threats like shafts at randome fall, 
269:05,197['  ]| Yet can his Wisdome order curses so 
269:05,198['  ]| That blessings may out of their bowels flow.  
269:05,199['  ]| Thus death the door of lasting life became, 
269:05,200['  ]| Dissolving nature, to rebuild her frame, 
269:05,201['  ]| On such a sure foundation, as shall break 
269:05,202['  ]| All the attempts Hells cursed Empire make.  
269:05,203['  ]| Thus God reveng'd mans quarrel on his foe, 
269:05,204['  ]| To whom th' Almighty would no mercy show, 
269:05,205['  ]| Making his reign, his respite, and success, 
269:05,206['  ]| All augmenations of his cursedness.  
269:05,207['  ]| Thus gave he us a powerful Chief and Head, 
269:05,208['  ]| By whom we shall be out of bondage led.  
269:05,209['  ]| And made the penalties of our offence, 
269:05,210['  ]| Precepts and rules of new obedience, 
269:05,211['  ]| Fitted in all things to our fallen State, 
269:05,212['  ]| Under sweet promises, that ease their weight.  
269:05,213['  ]| Our first injunction is to hate an flie 
269:05,214['  ]| The flatteries of our first grand enemy; 
269:05,215['  ]| To have no friendship with his cursed race, 
269:05,216['  ]| The int'rest of the opposite feed t' embrace, 
269:05,217['  ]| Where though we toyl in fights, tho' bruis'd we be, 
269:05,218['  ]| Yet shall our combate end in victory:  
269:05,219['  ]| Eternal glory, healing our slight wound, 
269:05,220['  ]| When all our labours are with triumph crown'd.  
269:05,221['  ]| The next command is, mothers should maintain 
269:05,222['  ]| Posterity, not frighted with the pain, 
269:05,223['  ]| Which tho' it makes us mourn under the sense 
269:05,224['  ]| Of the first mothers disobedience, 
269:05,225['  ]| Yet hath a promise that hereby she shall 
269:05,226['  ]| Recover all the hurt of her first fall, 
269:05,227['  ]| When, in mysterious manner, from her womb 
269:05,228['  ]| Her father, brother, husband, son shall come.  
269:05,229['  ]| Subjection to the husband's rule enjoyn'd, 
269:05,230['  ]| In the next place, that yoak with love is lin'd, 
269:05,231['  ]| Love too a precept made, where God requires 
269:05,232['  ]| We should perform our duties with desires; 
269:05,233['  ]| And promises t' encline our averse will, 
269:05,234['  ]| Whose satisfaction takes away the ill 
269:05,235['  ]| Of every toyl, and every suffering 
269:05,236['  ]| That can from unenforc'd submission spring; 
269:05,237['  ]| The last command, God with and curse did give, 
269:05,238['  ]| Was that men should in honest callings live, 
269:05,239['  ]| Eating their own bread, fruit of their own sweat; 
269:05,240['  ]| Nor feel like drones on that which others get:  
269:05,241['  ]| And this command a promise doth implie, 
269:05,242['  ]| That bread shoudl recompence our industry.  
269:05,243['  ]| One mercy more his sentence did include, 
269:05,244['  ]| That mortal toyls, faintings and lassitude, 
269:05,245['  ]| Should not beyond deaths fixed bound extend, 
269:05,246['  ]| But there in everlasting quiet end; 
269:05,247['  ]| When men out of the troubled air depart, 
269:05,248['  ]| And to their first material dust revert, 
269:05,249['  ]| The utmost power that death or woe can have 
269:05,250['  ]| Is but to shut us pris'ners in the grave, 
269:05,251['  ]| Bruising the flesh, that heel whereon we tread, 
269:05,252['  ]| But we shall trample on the serpents head.  
269:05,253['  ]| Our scatter'd atoms shall again condense, 
269:05,254['  ]| And be again inspir'd with living sense; 
269:05,255['  ]| Captivity shall then a captive be, 
269:05,256['  ]| Death shall be swallow'd up in victory, 
269:05,257['  ]| And God shall man to Paradise restore, 
269:05,258['  ]| Where the foul tempter shall seduce no more 
269:05,259['  ]| How far our parents, whose sad eyes were fixt 
269:05,260['  ]| On woe and terror, saw the mercy mixt, 
269:05,261['  ]| We can but make a wild uncertain guess, 
269:05,262['  ]| As we are now affected in distress, 
269:05,263['  ]| Who less regard the mitigation still 
269:05,264['  ]| Than the slight smart of our afflicting ill; 
269:05,265['  ]| And while we groan under the hated yoak, 
269:05,266['  ]| Our gratitude for its soft lining choak.  
269:05,267['  ]| But God having th' amazed sinners doom'd, 
269:05,268['  ]| Put off the Judges frown and reassum'd 
269:05,269['  ]| A tender fathers kind and melting face 
269:05,270['  ]| Opening his gracious arms for new embrace, 
269:05,271['  ]| Taught them to expiate their heinous guilt 
269:05,272['  ]| By spotless sacrifice and pure blood spilt, 
269:05,273['  ]| Which done in faith did their faint hearts sustain, 
269:05,274['  ]| Till the intended lambs of God was slain, 
269:05,275['  ]| Whose death, whose merit, and whose innocence, 
269:05,276['  ]| The forfeit paid and blottted out th' offence.  
269:05,277['  ]| The skins of the slain beasts, God vestures made, 
269:05,278['  ]| Wherein the naked sinners we array'd, 
269:05,279['  ]| Not without mystery, which typifi'd 
269:05,280['  ]| That righteousness that doth our foul shame hide.  
269:05,281['  ]| As when a rotting patient must endure 
269:05,282['  ]| Painful excisions to effect his cure, 
269:05,283['  ]| His spirits we with cordials fortifie, 
269:05,284['  ]| Lest, unsupported, he should faint and die:  
269:05,285['  ]| So with our parents the Almighty dealt, 
269:05,286['  ]| Before their necessary woes they felt, 
269:05,287['  ]| Their feeble souls rich promises upheld, 
269:05,288['  ]| And their deliverance was in types reveal'd, 
269:05,289['  ]| Even their bodies God himself did arm 
269:05,290['  ]| With clothes that kept them from the weathers harm; 
269:05,291['  ]| But after all, they must be driven away, 
269:05,292['  ]| Nor in their forfeit Paradise must stay.  
269:05,293['  ]| Then, said the Lord, with holy ironie, 
269:05,294['  ]| Whence man the folly of his pride might see, 
269:05,295['  ]| The earthy man like one of us is grown, 
269:05,296['  ]| To whom, as God, both good and ill is known, 
269:05,297['  ]| Now lest he also eat of th' other tree 
269:05,298['  ]| Whose fruit gives life, and an Immortal be, 
269:05,299['  ]| Let us by just and timely banishment 
269:05,300['  ]| His further sinful arrogance prevent.  
269:05,417['  ]| Are we not half with griping hunger pin'd, 
269:05,418['  ]| Before we bread amongst the branbles find?  
269:05,419['  ]| All pale diseases in our members reign, 
269:05,420['  ]| Anguish and grief no less our sick souls pain, 
269:05,421['  ]| Wherever I my eyes, or thoughts convert, 
269:05,422['  ]| Each object adds new tortures to my heart.  
269:05,423['  ]| If I look up, I dread heavens threatning frown, 
269:05,424['  ]| Thorns prick my eyes, when shame hath cast them down, 
269:05,425['  ]| Dangers I see, looking on either hand, 
269:05,426['  ]| Before me all in fighting posture stand.  
269:05,427['  ]| If I cast back my sorrow-drowned eyes, 
269:05,428['  ]| I see our ne're to be recover'd Paradise, 
269:05,429['  ]| The flaming Sword which doth us thence exclude, 
269:05,430['  ]| By sad remorse and ugly guilt pursued.  
269:05,431['  ]| If I on thee a private glance reflect, 
269:05,432['  ]| Confusion doth my shameful eyes deject, 
269:05,433['  ]| Seeing the man I love by me betray'd, 
269:05,434['  ]| By me, who for his mutual help was made, 
269:05,435['  ]| Who to preserve thy life ought to have died, 
269:05,436['  ]| And I have kill'd thee by my foolish pride; 
269:05,437['  ]| Defil'd thy glory, and pull'd down thy throne.  
269:05,438['  ]| O that I had but sin'd, and died alone!  
269:05,439['  ]| Then had my torture and my woe been less, 
269:05,440['  ]| I yet had flourisht in thy happiness.  
269:05,441['  ]| If these words \Adam's\ melting soul did move, 
269:05,442['  ]| He might reply with kind rebuking love.  
269:05,443['  ]| Cease, cease, O foolish woman, to dispute, 
269:05,444['  ]| Gods soveraign will and Power are absolute.  
269:05,445['  ]| If he will have us soon, or slow to die, 
269:05,446['  ]| Frail worms must yield, but must not question why.  
269:05,447['  ]| When his great hand appears, we must conclude 
269:05,448['  ]| All that he doth is wise, and just, and good; 
269:05,449['  ]| Though our poor, sin-benighted souls, are blind, 
269:05,450['  ]| Nor can the mysteries of his wisdome find, 
269:05,451['  ]| Yet in our present case we must confess 
269:05,452['  ]| His justice and our own unrighteousness.  
269:05,453['  ]| He warn'd us of this fatal consequence, 
269:05,454['  ]| That death must wait on disobedience; 
269:05,455['  ]| yet we despis'd his threat, and broke his law, 
269:05,456['  ]| So did destruction ono ur own heads draw; 
269:05,457['  ]| Now under his afflicting hand we lie, 
269:05,458['  ]| Reaping the fruit of our iniquity.  
269:05,459['  ]| Which, had not he prevented, when we fell, 
269:05,460['  ]| At once had plung'd us in the lowest hell; 
269:05,461['  ]| But by his mercy yet we have reprieve, 
269:05,462['  ]| And yet are shew'd how we in death may live, 
269:05,463['  ]| If we improve our short indulged space 
269:05,464['  ]| To understand, prize, and accept his grace.  
269:05,465['  ]| Did all of us at once like brutes expire, 
269:05,466['  ]| And cease to be, we might quick death desire:  
269:05,467['  ]| But since our chief and immaterial part, 
269:05,468['  ]| Not fram'd of dust, doth not to dust revert:  
269:05,469['  ]| Its death not an annihilation is, 
269:05,470['  ]| But to be cut off from its supream bliss:  
269:05,471['  ]| Whatever here to mortals can befal, 
269:05,472['  ]| Compar'd to future miseries is small, 
269:05,473['  ]| The saddest, sharpest, and the longest have 
269:05,474['  ]| Their final consummations in the grave, 
269:05,475['  ]| These have their intermissions and allays, 
269:05,476['  ]| Though black and gloomy ones, these nights have days, 
269:05,477['  ]| The worst calamities we here endure 
269:05,478['  ]| Admit a possibility of cure; 
269:05,479['  ]| Our miseries here are varied in their kind, 
269:05,480['  ]| And in that change the wretched some ease find.  
269:05,481['  ]| Sleep here our pained senses stupifies, 
269:05,482['  ]| And cheating streams in our sick fancies rise, 
269:05,483['  ]| But in our future sufferings 'tis not so, 
269:05,484['  ]| There is no end, no intermitted woe, 
269:05,485['  ]| No more return from the accursed place, 
269:05,486['  ]| No hope, no possibility of grace, 
269:05,487['  ]| No sleepy intervals, no pleasant dreams, 
269:05,488['  ]| No mitigations of those sad extreams, 
269:05,489['  ]| No gentle mixtures, no soft changes there, 
269:05,490['  ]| Perpetual tortures, heightned with despair, 
269:05,491['  ]| Eternal horror, and eternal night, 
269:05,492['  ]| Eternal burnings, with no glance of light, 
269:05,493['  ]| Eternal pain.  O 'tis a thought too great, 
269:05,494['  ]| Too terrible, for any to repeat, 
269:05,495['  ]| Who have not scap'd the dread.  Let's not to shun 
269:05,496['  ]| Heavens scorching rays, into hells furnace run:  
269:05,497['  ]| But having slain our selves, let's flie to him 
269:05,498['  ]| Who only can our souls from death redeem, 
269:05,499['  ]| To undo what's done is not within our power, 
269:05,500['  ]| No more than to call back the last fled hour.  
269:05,501['  ]| To think we can our fallen state restore, 
269:05,502['  ]| Or without hope, our ruine to deplore, 
269:05,503['  ]| Are equal aggravating crimes; the first 
269:05,504['  ]| Repeats that sin for which we were accurst, 
269:05,505['  ]| While we with foolish arrogating pride, 
269:05,506['  ]| More in our selves than in our God confide; 
269:05,507['  ]| The last is both ungrateful and unjust, 
269:05,508['  ]| That doth his goodness, or his power distrust.  
269:05,509['  ]| Which wheresoe're we look, without, within, 
269:05,510['  ]| Above, beneath, in every place is seen, 
269:05,511['  ]| Doth Heaven frown?  Above the sullen shrouds 
269:05,512['  ]| God sits, and sees through all the blackest clouds 
269:05,513['  ]| Sin casts about us, like the misty night, 
269:05,514['  ]| Which hide his pleasing glances from our sight, 
269:05,515['  ]| Nor only sees, but darts on us his beams 
269:05,516['  ]| Ministring comfort in our worst extreams.  
269:05,517['  ]| When lightnings flie, dire storm and thunder roars, 
269:05,518['  ]| He guides the shafts, the serene calm restores.  
269:05,519['  ]| When shadows occupie days vacant room, 
269:05,520['  ]| He makes new glory spring from nights dark womb.  
269:05,521['  ]| When the black Prince of air lets loose the winds, 
269:05,522['  ]| The furious warriours he in prison binds.  
269:05,523['  ]| If burning stars do conflagrations threat, 
269:05,524['  ]| He gives cool breezes to allay the heat.  
269:05,525['  ]| When cold doth in its rigid season reign, 
269:05,526['  ]| He melts the snows, and thaws the air again; 
269:05,527['  ]| Restoring the vicissitude of things, 
269:05,528['  ]| He still new good from every evil brings.  
269:05,529['  ]| He holds together the worlds shaken frame, 
269:05,530['  ]| Ordaining every change, is still the same.  
269:05,531['  ]| If he permit the elements to fight, 
269:05,532['  ]| The rage of storms, the blackness of the night; 
269:05,533['  ]| 'Tis that his power, love and wisdome may 
269:05,534['  ]| More glory have, restoring calm and day; 
269:05,535['  ]| That we may more the pleasant blessings prize, 
269:05,536['  ]| Laid in the balance with their contraries.  
269:05,537['  ]| Though dangers then, like gaping monsters stand 
269:05,538['  ]| Ready to swallow us on either hand; 
269:05,539['  ]| Let us despise them, firm in this faith still, 
269:05,540['  ]| If God will save, they can nor hurt nor kill; 
269:05,541['  ]| If by his just permission we are slain, 
269:05,542['  ]| His power can heal and quicken us again.  
269:05,543['  ]| If briers and thorns, which from our sins arise 
269:05,544['  ]| Looking on earth, pierce through our guilty eyes, 
269:05,545['  ]| Let's yet give thanks they have not choak'd the seed 
269:05,546['  ]| Which should with better fruit our sad lives feed.  
269:05,547['  ]| If discord set the inward world on fire, 
269:05,548['  ]| With hast let's to the living spring retire, 
269:05,549['  ]| There quench, and quiet the disturbed soul, 
269:05,550['  ]| There on Loves sweet refreshing green banks rowl, 
269:05,551['  ]| Where ecstasied with joy, we shall not feel 
269:05,552['  ]| The Serpents little nibblings at our heel.  
269:05,553['  ]| If we look back on Paradise, late lost, 
269:05,554['  ]| Joys vanisht like swift dreams, thaw'd like a frost, 
269:05,555['  ]| Converting pleasant walks to dirt and mire, 
269:05,556['  ]| Would we such frail delights again desire, 
269:05,557['  ]| Which at their best, however excellent, 
269:05,558['  ]| Had this defect, they were not permanent?  
269:05,559['  ]| If sin, remorse, and guilt give us the chace, 
269:05,560['  ]| Let us lie close in mercies sweet embrace, 
269:05,561['  ]| Which when it us asham'd, and naked found 
269:05,562['  ]| In the soft arms of melting pity bound; 
269:05,563['  ]| Eternal glorious triumphs did prepare, 
269:05,564['  ]| Arm'd us with clothes against the wounding air, 
269:05,565['  ]| By expiating sacrifices taught, 
269:05,566['  ]| How new life shall by death to light be brought.  
269:05,567['  ]| If we before us look, although we see 
269:05,568['  ]| All things in present fighting prosture be:  
269:05,569['  ]| Yet in the promise we a prospect have 
269:05,570['  ]| Of victory swallowing up the empty grave; 
269:05,571['  ]| Our foes all vanquisht, death it self lies dead, 
269:05,572['  ]| And we shall trample on the monsters head.  
269:05,573['  ]| Entring into a new and perfect joy, 
269:05,574['  ]| Which neither sin nor sorrow can destroy:  
269:05,575['  ]| A lasting and refin'd felicity, 
269:05,576['  ]| For which even we our selves refin'd must be.  
269:05,577['  ]| Then shall we laugh at our now childish woes, 
269:05,578['  ]| And hug the birth that issues from these throes.  
269:05,579['  ]| Let not my share of grief afflict thy mind, 
269:05,580['  ]| But let me comfort in thy courage find; 
269:05,581['  ]| 'Twas not thy malice, but thy ignorance 
269:05,582['  ]| That lately my destruction did advance; 
269:05,583['  ]| Nor can I my own self excuse; 'twas I 
269:05,584['  ]| Undid my self by my facility.  
269:05,585['  ]| Let's not in vain each other now upbraid, 
269:05,586['  ]| But rather strive to afford each other aid:  
269:05,587['  ]| And our most graciour Lord with due thanks bless, 
269:05,588['  ]| Who hath not left us single in distress.  
269:05,589['  ]| When fear chills thee, my hope shall make thee warm, 
269:05,590['  ]| When I grow faint, thou shalt my courage arm; 
269:05,591['  ]| When both our spirits at a low ebb are, 
269:05,592['  ]| We both will joyn in mutual fervent prayer 
269:05,593['  ]| To him whose gracious succour neuer fails, 
269:05,594['  ]| When sin and death poor feeble man assails, 
269:05,595['  ]| He that our final triumph hath decreed, 
269:05,596['  ]| And promis'd thee salvation in thy seed.  
269:05,597['  ]| Ah!  can I this in \Adams\ person say, 
269:05,598['  ]| While fruitless tears melt my poor life away?  
269:05,599['  ]| Of all the ills to mortals incident, 
269:05,600['  ]| None more pernicious is than discontent, 
269:05,601['  ]| That brat of unbelief, and stubborn pride, 
269:05,602['  ]| And sensual lust, with no joy satisfied, 
269:05,603['  ]| That doth ingratitude and murmur nurse, 
269:05,604['  ]| And is a sin which carries its own curse; 
269:05,605['  ]| This is the only smart of every ill; 
269:05,606['  ]| But can we without it sad tortures feel?  
269:05,607['  ]| Yes; if our souls above our sense remain, 
269:05,608['  ]| And take not in th' afflicted bodies pain, 
269:05,609['  ]| When they descend and mix with the disease, 
269:05,610['  ]| Then doth the anguish live, reign, and encrease.  
269:05,611['  ]| Which when the soul is not in it, grows faint, 
269:05,612['  ]| And wastes its strength, not nourisht with complaint, 
269:05,613['  ]| Submissive, humble, happy, sweet content 
269:05,614['  ]| A thousand deaths by one death doth prevent; 
269:05,615['  ]| When our rebellious wills subdued thereby 
269:05,616['  ]| Into th' eternal will and wisdome, die; 
269:05,617['  ]| Nor is that will harsh or irrational, 
269:05,618['  ]| But sweet in that which we most bitter call, 
269:05,619['  ]| Who err in judging what is ill or good, 
269:05,620['  ]| Only by studying that will, understood.  
269:05,621['  ]| What we admire in a low Paradise, 
269:05,622['  ]| If they our souls from heavenly thoughts entice, 
269:05,623['  ]| Here terminating our most strong desire, 
269:05,624['  ]| Which should to perfect permanence aspire, 
269:05,625['  ]| From being good to us they are so far, 
269:05,626['  ]| That they our fetters, yoaks and poysons are, 
269:05,627['  ]| The obstacles of our felicity, 
269:05,628['  ]| The ruine of our souls most firm healths be, 
269:05,629['  ]| Quenching that life-maintaining appetite, 
269:05,630['  ]| Which makes substantial fruit our sound delight.  
269:05,631['  ]| The evils, so miscall'd, that we endure 
269:05,632['  ]| Are wholsome medicines tending to our cure, 
269:05,633['  ]| Only disease to these aversion breeds, 
269:05,634['  ]| The healthy soul on them with due thanks feeds.  
269:05,635['  ]| If for a Prince, a Mistress, or a Friend, 
269:05,636['  ]| Many do joy their bloods and lives to spend, 
269:05,637['  ]| Wealth, honour, ease, dangers and wounds despise, 
269:05,638['  ]| Should we not more to Gods will sacrifice?  
269:05,639['  ]| And by free gift prevent that else sure loss?  
269:05,640['  ]| Whate're our will is, we must bear the cross, 
269:05,641['  ]| Which freely taken up, the weight is less, 
269:05,642['  ]| And hurts not, carried on with chearfulness; 
269:05,643['  ]| Besides, what we can lose, are gliding streams, 
269:05,644['  ]| Light airy shadows, unsubstantial dreams, 
269:05,645['  ]| Wherein we no propriety could have 
269:05,646['  ]| But that which our own cheating fancy gave; 
269:05,647['  ]| The right of them was due to God alone, 
269:05,648['  ]| And when with thanks we render him his own, 
269:05,649['  ]| Either he gives us back our offerings, 
269:05,650['  ]| Or our submission pays with better things:  
269:05,651['  ]| Were ills as real as our fancies make, 
269:05,652['  ]| They soon must us, or we must them forsake; 
269:05,653['  ]| We cannot miss ease and vicissitude, 
269:05,654['  ]| Till our last rest our labours shall conclude.  
269:05,655['  ]| Natural tears there are, which in due bound 
269:05,656['  ]| Do not the soul with sinful sorrow drown, 
269:05,657['  ]| Repentant tears too are no fretting brine, 
269:05,658['  ]| But loves soft meltings, which the soul refine, 
269:05,659['  ]| Like gentle showers, that usher in the spring, 
269:05,660['  ]| These make the soul more fair and flourishing.  
269:05,661['  ]| No murmuring winds of passions here prevail, 
269:05,662['  ]| But the life-breathing Spirits sweet fresh gale, 
269:05,663['  ]| Which by those fruitfl drops all graces feeds, 
269:05,664['  ]| And draws rich extracts from the soaked seeds, 
269:05,665['  ]| But worldly sorrow, like rough winters storms, 
269:05,666['  ]| All graces kills, all loveliness deforms, 
269:05,667['  ]| Augments the evils of our present state, 
269:05,668['  ]| And doth eternal woes anticipate.  
269:05,669['  ]| Vain is that grief which can no ill redress, 
269:05,670['  ]| But adds affliction to uneasiness; 
269:05,671['  ]| Unnerving the souls powers, then, when they shou'd 
269:05,672['  ]| Most exercise their constant fortitude.  
269:05,673['  ]| With these most certain turths let's wind up all, 
269:05,674['  ]| Whatever doth to mortal men befall 
269:05,675['  ]| Not casual is, like shafts at randome shot, 
269:05,676['  ]| But Providence distributes every lot, 
269:05,677['  ]| In which th' obedient and the meak rejoyce, 
269:05,678['  ]| Above their own preserving Gods wise choice:  
269:05,679['  ]| Nor is his providence less good than wise, 
269:05,680['  ]| Tho' our gross sense pierce not its mysteries.  
269:05,681['  ]| As there's but one most true substantial good, 
269:05,682['  ]| And God himself is that Beatitude:  
269:05,683['  ]| So can we suffer but one real ill, 
269:05,684['  ]| Divorce from him by our repugnant will, 
269:05,685['  ]| Which when to just submission it returns, 
269:05,686['  ]| The reunited soul no longer mourns, 
269:05,687['  ]| His serene rays dry up its former tears, 
269:05,688['  ]| Dispel the tempest of its carnal fears, 
269:05,689['  ]| Which dread what either never may arrive, 
269:05,690['  ]| Or not as seen in their false perspective; 
269:05,691['  ]| For in the crystal mirror of Gods grace 
269:05,692['  ]| All things appear with a new lovely face.  
269:05,693['  ]| When that doth Heavens more glorious palace show 
269:05,694['  ]| We cease to' admire a Paradise below, 
269:05,695['  ]| Rejoyce in that which lately was our loss, 
269:05,696['  ]| And see a Crown made up of every Cross.  
269:05,697['  ]| Return, return, my soul to thy true rest, 
269:05,698['  ]| As young benighted birds unto their nest, 
269:05,699['  ]| There hide thy self under the wings of love 
269:05,700['  ]| Till the bright morning all thy clouds remove.