So only can high Justice rest appaid.
The law of God exact he shall fulfil

Both by obedience and by love, though love
Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment

He shall endure, by coming in the flesh
To a reproachful life, and cursed death;
Proclaiming life to all who shall believe
In his redemption; and that his obedience,
Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits
To save them, not their own, though legal works.
For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd,
Seis'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemn'd
A shameful and accurs'd, nail'd to the cross
By his own nation; slain for bringing life :
But to the cross he nails thy enemies,
The law that is against thee, and the sins
Of all mankind, with him there crucified,
Never to hurt them more who rightly trust
In this his satisfaction; so he dies,
But soon revives; Death over him no power
Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light
Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise
Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light,
Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems,
His death for Man, as many as offer'd life
Neglect not, and the benefit embrace

By faith not void of works: This God-like act

Annuls thy doom, the death thou should'st have died,

In sin for ever lost from life; this act

Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms; And fix far deeper in his head their stings

Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel, Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal life.

Nor after resurrection shall he stay

Longer on earth, than certain times to appear
To his disciples, men who in his life

Still follow'd him; to them shall leave in charge
To teach all nations what of him they learn'd
And his salvation; them who shall believe
Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign
Of washing them from guilt of sin to life
Pure and in mind prepar'd, if so befall,
For death, like that which the Redeemer died.
All nations they shall teach; for from that day,
Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins
Salvation shall be preach'd, but to the sons

Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world;
So in his seed all nations shall be blest.

Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend
With victory, triumphing through the air
Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains
Through all his realm, and there confounded leave;
Then enter into glory, and resume

His seat at God's right hand, exalted high

Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come, When this world's dissolution shall be ripe,

With glory and power to judge both quick and dead;
To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward

His faithful, and receive them into bliss,
Whether in Heaven or Earth: for then the Earth
Shall all be Paradise, far happier place
Than this of Eden, and far happier days.

So spake the Arch-Angel Michaël : then paus'd,
As at the world's great period: and our sire,
Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied.
O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense !
That all this good of evil shall produce,
And evil turn to good; more wonderful
Than that which by creation first brought forth
Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand,
Whether I should repent me now of sin

By me done, and occasion'd; or rejoice

Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring;

To God more glory, more good-will to Men

From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. if our Deliverer up to Heaven

But say,

Must re-ascend, what will betide the few

His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd,
The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide
His people, who defend? Will they not deal

Worse with his followers than with him they dealt? Be sure they will, said the Angel; but from Heaven

He to his own a Comforter will send,

The promise of the Father, who shall dwell

His Spirit within them; and the law of faith,
Working through love, upon their hearts shall write
To guide them in all truth; and also arm
With spiritual armour, able to resist

Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts;
What man can do against them, not afraid,
Though to the death; against such cruelties
With inward consolations recompens❜d,
And oft supported so as shall amaze

Their proudest persecutors: For the Spirit,
Pour'd first on his Apostles, whom he sends
To evangelize the nations, then on all
Baptiz'd, shall them with wonderous gifts endue
To speak all tongues, and do all miracles,
As did their Lord before them. Thus they win
Great numbers of each nation to receive

With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: At

length

Their ministry perform'd, and race well run,

Their doctrine and their story written left,
They die; but in their room, as they forewarn,
Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves,
Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven

To their own vile advantages shall turn
Of lucre and ambition; and the truth
With superstitions and traditions taint,
Left only in those written records pure,
Though not but by the Spirit understood.

14

Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,
"Places, and titles, and with these to join
Secular power; though feigning still to act
By spiritual, to themselves appropriating
The Spirit of God, promis'd alike and given
To all believers; and, from that pretence
Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force
On every conscience; laws which none shall find
Left them inroll'd, or what the Spirit within
Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then
But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind
His consort Liberty? what, but unbuild
His living temples, built by faith to stand,
Their own faith, not another's? for, on earth,
Who against faith and conscience can be heard
Infallible? yet many will presume :
Whence heavy persecution shall arise
On all, who in the worship persevere

Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater part,
Will deem in outward rites and specious forms
Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire

Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith

Rarely be found: So shall the world go on,