1 as in their Souls fixed many Plagues and Torments: They being quite aftonished, loft all Power of Refiltance, and all Courage, and down dropt their useless Weapons: He rode over Shields and Helmets, with the Heads that wore them, of mighty Powers and Seraphim now lying proftrate; who wished the Mountains might be thrown on them again, to shelter them from his Rage. On the other Side, his Arrows did not fall lefs tempeftuous from the four Seraphim, who each had four Faces, thick fet with Eyes, and from the living Wheels, which also were full of Eyes; one Spirit ruled in them all, and every Eye blazed Lightning, and fhot forth fuch hurtful Fire among the accurled Spirits, as withered all their Strength, and left them fpiritlefs, afflicted, fallen, and drained them of all their ufual Vigour. Yet did not the Son of GoD put forth half his Strength, but checked his Thunder in the Midft of its Flight; for he did not mean to deftroy them, but only to drive them out of Heaven: Those who were overthrown he raised up, and like a Herd of Goats or timorous Sheep that are flocked together, drove them thunder-ftruck before him to the Bounds of Heaven, which opening wide rolled inward, and discovered a great Gap into the Deep: At that monftrous Sight they were ftruck backward with Horror; but far worse Horror urged them behind, fo that they threw themselves headlong down from the Borders of Heaven, and eternal Wrath burnt after them to the bottomlelfs Pit. Hell heard the intolerable Noife, and faw Heaven falling in Ruin from Heaven, and being affrighted would have fled, but Fate had bound her too faft, and caft her dark Foundations too deep. They were nine Days in their Fall, and the confused and roaring CHAOS was filled with tenfold Confufion as they fell, until Hell at last yawning received them all, and closed upon them; a fit Habitation for them, full of unquenchable Fire, the Dwelling-Place of Pain and Mifery. Heaven being quit of the Burthen rejoiced, and foon fhut up the Breach through which the fallen Angels were driven cut. THE THE MESSIAH having alone obtained the Victory, turned his triumphal Chariot from the Expulfion of his Enemies; all his Saints advanced to meet him with great Rejoicing, who had stood filent to behold his Almighty Deeds, and as they went shaded with Branches of Palm, each bright Order fung Songs of Triumph, expreffing him to be the victorious KING, the SON, HEIR, and LORD, and the Dominion was given to him, who was worthieft to reign. He rode, thus celebrated, triumphant through the Middle of Heaven, into the Courts and Temple of his mighty FATHER, who fits on the highest Throne, and who received him into Glory, where he now dwells at the Right-Hand of GOD. THUS, ADAM, measuring as well as I could Things in Heaven by thofe on Earth, I have at thy Request (and that thou mayeft take Heed by what is paft) revealed to thee, what elle perhaps might have been hid from the Race of MAN; the Discord and the War which befel in Heaven among the Angelical Powers, and the deep Fall of thofe too high alpiring Spirits, who rebelled with SATAN: He who now envies thy State, and who is now contriving how he may feduce thee alfo from thy Obedience, that thou bereaved of Happiness mayeft partake with him his Punishment, which is eternal Mifery; this would be his greatest Delight and Revenge, as in Despite against the moft HIGH, once to gain thee to be the Companion of his Woe. But do not thou liften to his Temptations; warn EvE, who in the Capacity of her Mind is weaker than thee: Let it be of Service to thee, to have heard by terrible Example, what the Reward of Difobedience is; they might have ftood firm, and yet they fell: Do thou bear that in Mind, and fear to tranfgrefs the Command laid upon thee. The End of the SIXTH BOOK. THE THE SEVENTH BOOK OF PARADISE LOST. R The ARGUMENT. APHAEL, at the Request of Adam, relates how and wherefore this World was firft created; that Gop after the expelling of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven declared his Pleafure to create another World, and other Creatures to dwell therein. GOD fends his Son with Glory and Attendance of Angels to perform the Work of Creation in fix Days: The Angels celebrate with Hymns the Performance thereof, and his Re-Afcenfion to Heaven. СНАР. |