The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (138 page)

447

Not only to the sons of Abraham’s loins

448

Salvation shall be preached, but to the sons

449

Of Abraham’s faith wherever through the world.

450

So in his seed all nations shall be blest.

451

Then to the Heav’n of Heav’ns he
⁶⁴⁰⁴
shall ascend

452

With victory, triumphing
⁶⁴⁰⁵
through the air

453

Over his foes and thine. There shall surprise

454

The serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains

455

Through all his
⁶⁴⁰⁶
realm, and there
⁶⁴⁰⁷
confounded
⁶⁴⁰⁸
leave,

456

Then enter into glory, and resume

457

His seat at God’s right hand, exalted high

458

Above all names
⁶⁴⁰⁹
in Heav’n, and thence shall come,

459

When this world’s dissolution shall be ripe,

460

With glory and power to judge both quick
⁶⁴¹⁰
and dead—

461

To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward

462

His faithful, and receive them into bliss,

463

Whether in Heav’n or earth, for then the earth

464

Shall all be Paradise, far happier place

465

Than this of Eden, and far happier days.”

466

   
So spoke the Arch-Angel Michael, then paused,

467

As at the world’s great period;
⁶⁴¹¹
and our sire,

468

Replete
⁶⁴¹²
with joy and wonder, thus replied:

469

   
“O goodness infinite, goodness immense!

470

That all this good of
⁶⁴¹³
evil shall produce,
⁶⁴¹⁴

471

And evil turn to good, more wonderful

472

Than that which by creation first brought forth

473

Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand,

474

Whether I should repent me now of sin

475

By me done and occasioned,
⁶⁴¹⁵
or rejoice

476

Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring,

477

To God more glory, more good-will to men

478

From God, and over wrath grace shall abound.
⁶⁴¹⁶

479

But say, if our Deliverer up to Heav’n

480

Must re-ascend, what will betide
⁶⁴¹⁷
the few

481

His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd,

482

The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide

483

His people, who defend? Will they not deal

484

Worse with his followers than with him they dealt?”

485

   
“Be sure they will,” said the Angel, “but from Heav’n

486

He to his own a comforter
⁶⁴¹⁸
will send,

487

The promise of the Father, who shall dwell

488

His Spirit within them, and the law of faith,

489

Working through love, upon their hearts shall write,

490

To guide them in all truth, and also arm

491

With spiritual armor, able to resist

492

Satan’s assaults, and quench
⁶⁴¹⁹
his fiery darts—

493

What man can do against them, not afraid,

494

Though to the death, against such cruelties

495

With inward consolations recompensed,

496

And oft supported
⁶⁴²⁰
so as shall amaze

497

Their proudest persecutors. For the Spirit,

498

Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends

499

T’ evangelize the nations, then on all

500

Baptized, shall them with wond’rous gifts endue
⁶⁴²¹

501

To speak all tongues,
⁶⁴²²
and do all miracles,

502

As did their Lord before them. Thus they win

503

Great numbers of each nation to receive

504

With joy the tidings brought from Heav’n.

“At length

505

Their ministry performed, and race well run,

506

Their doctrine and their story written left,

507

They die, but in their room,
⁶⁴²³
as they forewarn,

508

Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves,

509

Who all the sacred mysteries of Heav’n

510

To their own vile advantages shall turn

511

Of lucre
⁶⁴²⁴
and ambition, and the truth

512

With superstitions and traditions taint,

513

Left only in those written records pure,

514

Though not but
⁶⁴²⁵
by the Spirit understood.

515

Then shall they
⁶⁴²⁶
seek to avail themselves of names,

516

Places, and titles, and with these to join

517

Secular power, though feigning still to act

518

By spiritual, to themselves appropriating

519

The Spirit of God, promised alike and giv’n

520

To all believers; and from that pretence,

521

Spiritual laws by carnal
⁶⁴²⁷
power shall force

522

On every conscience, laws which none shall find

523

Left them enrolled
⁶⁴²⁸
or what the Spirit within

524

Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then

525

But force the spirit of grace itself, and bind

526

His consort liberty? What but unbuild

527

His living temples, built by faith to stand,

528

Their own faith, not another’s—for on earth

529

Who against faith and conscience can be heard

530

Infallible?

“Yet many will presume.
⁶⁴²⁹

531

Whence heavy persecution shall arise

532

On all who in the worship persevere

533

Of spirit and truth. The rest, far greater part,

534

Will deem
⁶⁴³⁰
in outward rites and specious
⁶⁴³¹
forms
⁶⁴³²

535

Religion satisfied.
⁶⁴³³
Truth shall retire,
⁶⁴³⁴

536

Bestuck with sland’rous darts, and works of faith