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pleasure I from such obedience paid,

      When Will and Reason (Reason also is choice)

      Useless and vain, of freedom both despoild,

      Made passive both, had servd necessitie,

      Not mee. They therefore as to right belongd,

      So were created, nor can justly accuse

      Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate;

      As if Predestination over-rul’d

      Thir will, dispos’d by absolute Decree

      Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed

      Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew,

      Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,

      Which had no less prov’d certain unforeknown.

      So without least impulse or shadow of Fate,

      Or aught by me immutablie foreseen,

      They trespass, Authors to themselves in all

      Both what they judge and what they choose; for so

      I formd them free, and free they must remain,

      Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change

      Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree

      Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordain’d

      Thir freedom, they themselves ordain’d thir fall.

      The first sort by thir own suggestion fell,

      Self-tempted, self-deprav’d: Man falls deceiv’d

      By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace,

      The other none: in Mercy and Justice both,

      Through Heav’n and Earth, so shall my glorie excel,

      But Mercy first and last shall brightest shine.

      Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill’d

      All Heav’n, and in the blessed Spirits elect

      Sense of new joy ineffable diffus’d:

      Beyond compare the Son of God was seen

      Most glorious, in him all his Father shon

      Substantially express’d, and in his face

      Divine compassion visibly appeerd,

      Love without end, and without measure Grace,

      Which uttering thus he to his Father spake.

      O Father, gracious was that word which clos’d

      Thy sovran sentence, that Man should find grace;

      For which both Heav’n and Earth shall high extoll

      Thy praises, with th’ innumerable sound

      Of Hymns and sacred Songs, wherewith thy Throne

      Encompass’d shall resound thee ever blest.

      For should Man finally be lost, should Man

      Thy creature late so lov’d, thy youngest Son

      Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though joynd

      With his own folly? that be from thee farr,

      That farr be from thee, Father, who art Judge

      Of all things made, and judgest onely right.

      Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain

      His end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfill

      His malice, and thy goodness bring to naught,

      Or proud return though to his heavier doom,

      Yet with revenge accomplish’t and to Hell

      Draw after him the whole Race of mankind,

      By him corrupted? or wilt thou thy self

      Abolish thy Creation, and unmake,

      For him, what for thy glorie thou hast made?

      So should thy goodness and thy greatness both

      Be questiond and blaspheam’d without defence.

      To whom the great Creatour thus reply’d.

      O Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight,

      Son of my bosom, Son who art alone

      My word, my wisdom, and effectual might,

      All hast thou spok’n as my thoughts are, all

      As my Eternal purpose hath decreed:

      Man shall not quite be lost, but sav’d who will,

      Yet not of will in him, but grace in me

      Freely voutsaft; once more I will renew

      His lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthrall’d

      By sin to foul exorbitant desires;

      Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand

      On even ground against his mortal foe,

      By me upheld, that he may know how frail

      His fall’n condition is, and to me ow

      All his deliv’rance, and to none but me.

      Some I have chosen of peculiar grace

      Elect above the rest; so is my will:

      The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd

      Thir sinful state, and to appease betimes

      Th’ incensed Deitie, while offerd grace

      Invites; for I will cleer thir senses dark,

      What may suffice, and soft’n stonie hearts

      To pray, repent, and bring obedience due.

      To prayer, repentance, and obedience due,

      Though but endevord with sincere intent,

      Mine eare shall not be slow, mine eye not shut.

      And I will place within them as a guide

      My Umpire CONSCIENCE, whom if they will hear,

      Light after light well us’d they shall attain,

      And to the end persisting, safe arrive.

      This my long sufferance and my day of grace

      They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste;

      But hard be hard’nd, blind be blinded more,

      That they may stumble on, and deeper fall;

      And none but such from mercy I exclude.

      But yet all is not don; Man disobeying,

      Disloyal breaks his fealtie, and sinns

      Against the high Supremacie of Heav’n,

      Affecting God-head, and so loosing all,

      To expiate his Treason hath naught left,

      But to destruction sacred and devote,

      He with his whole posteritie must die,

      Die hee or Justice must; unless for him

      Som other able, and as willing, pay

      The rigid satisfaction, death for death.

      Say Heav’nly Powers, where shall we find such love,

      Which of ye will be mortal to redeem

      Mans mortal crime, and just th’ unjust to save,

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