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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,

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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

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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,

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Eccentric,

Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular

Then moft, when moft irregular they feem;

And in their motions harmony divine

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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

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

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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.

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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

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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

VOL. X.

M

To

To utter is not fafe.

Affemble thou

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,

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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

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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

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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