Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs Of circuit inexpreffible they ftood, Orb within orb, the Father infinite,
By whom in blifs imbofom'd fat the Son, Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. Hear all ye Angels, progeny of light,
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, Hear my decree, which unrevok'd fhall ftand. This day I have begot whom I declare
My only Son, and on this holy hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold At my right hand; your head I him appoint; And by myself have fworn to him fhall bow All knees in Heav'n, and shall confefs him Lord: Under his great vice-gerent reign abide United as one individual foul
For ever happy: Him who disobeys, Me difobeys, breaks union, and that day, Caft out from God, and blessed vifion, falls Into' utter darkness, deep ingulf'd, his place Ordain'd without redemption, without end, So fpake th' Omnipotent, and with his words All seem'd well pleas'd; all feem'd, but were not all. That day, as other folemn days, they fpent In fong and dance about the facred hill; Myftical dance, which yonder starry sphere Of planets and of fix'd in all her wheels Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,
Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular
Then moft, when moft irregular they feem;
And in their motions harmony divine
So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear Liftens delighted. Evening now approach'd
(For we have alfo' our evening and our morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn 630
Defirous; all in circles as they stood,
Tables are fet, and on a sudden pil'd
With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows
In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold,
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. 635 On flow'rs repos'd, and with fresh flow'rets crown'd, They eat, they drink, and in communion fweet Quaff immortality and joy, fecure
Of furfeit where full measure only bounds Excefs, before th' all-bounteous King, who showr'd With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. Now when ambrofial night with clouds exhal'd From that high mount of God, whence light and shade Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had chang'd To grateful twilight (for night comes not there 645 In darker veil) and rofeat dews difpos'd
All but th' unfleeping eyes of God to reft; Wide over all the plain, and wider far
Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, (Such are the courts of God) th' angelic throng, 650 Difpers'd in bands and files, their camp extend By living ftreams among the trees of life,
Pavilions numberlefs, and fudden rear'd, Celestial tabernacles, where they flept
Fann'd with cool winds; fave thofe who in their courfe Melodious hymns about the fovran throne
Alternate all night long but not fo wak'd Satan; fo call him now, his former name Is heard no more in Heav'n; he of the first, If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power, In favor and præeminence, yet fraught With envy' against the Son of God, that day Honor'd by his great Father, and proclam'd Meffiah King anointed, could not bear
Through pride that fight, and thought himself impair'd. Deep malice thence conceiving and difdain, Soon as midnight brought on the dufky hour Friendliest to fleep and filence, he refolv'd With all his legions to diflodge, and leave Unworshipt, unobey'd the throne fupreme Contemptuous, and his next fubordinate Awak'ning, thus to him in fecret fpake.
Sleep'ft thou, Companion dear, what fleep can close Thy eye-lids? and remember'ft what decree Of yesterday, fo late hath pafs'd the lips
Of Heav'n's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts Wat wont, I mine to thee was wont to' impart; Both waking we were one; how then can now Thy fleep diffent? New laws thou feeft impos'd; New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise In us who ferve, new counfels, to debate
What doubtful may enfue: more in this place
Of all thofe myriads which we lead the chief; Tell them that by command, ere yet dim night 685
Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to hafte,
And all who under me their banners wave, Homeward with flying march where we poffefs The quarters of the north; there to prepare Fit entertainment to receive our king The great Meffiah, and his new commands, Who fpeedily through all the hierarchies Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws. So fpake the falfe Arch-Angel, and infus'd Bad influchce into th' unwary breast Of his affòciate: he together calls,
Or feveral one by one, the regent Powers,
Under him regent; tells, as he was taught, That the most High commanding, now ere night, Now ere dim night had difincumber'd Heaven, 700 The great hierarchal ftandard was to move;
Tells the fuggefted caufe, and cafts between Ambiguous words and jealoufies, to found Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
The wonted fignal, and fuperior voice
Of their great potentate; for great indeed
His name, and high was his degree in Heaven;
His count'nance, as the morning ftar that guides The ftarry flock, allur'd them, and with lies Drew after him the third part of Heav'n's hoft. 710 Mean while th' eternal eye, whose fight difcerns Abftrufeft thoughts, from forth his holy mount
And from within the golden lamps that burn Nightly before him, faw without their light Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spread Among the fons of morn, what multitudes Were banded to oppofe his high decree; And smiling to his only Son thus faid.
Son, thou in whom my glory I behold In full refplendence, Heir of all my might, Nearly it now concerns us to be fure Of our omnipotence, and with what arms We mean to hold what anciently we clame Of deity or empire; fuch a foe
Is rifing, who intends to' erect his throne Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north; Nor fo content, hath in his thought to try In battel, what our pow'r is, or our right. Let us advise, and to this hazard draw With speed what force is left, and all employ In our defense, left unawares we lose
This our high place, our fanctuary, our hill. To whom the Son with calm afpéct and clear, Lightning divine, ineffable, ferene,
Made anfwer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes Juftly haft in derifion, and fecure
Laugh'ft at their vain defigns and tumults vain, Matter to me of glory, whom their hate Illuftrates, when they fee all regal power Giv'n me to quell their pride, and in event Know whether I be dextrous to fubdue Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven.
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