"Twixt them and man arise foul enmity,
No more they fawn him but his presence flee;
On ev'ry nerve creation felt the blow
Which chang'd unfading joy to pain and woe.
Sin, with her sire, issued out of hell,
And earth possess'd; death follow'd at her heel,
In hot pursuit, snuff'd through the dreary way
The scent of carnage, produce of his sway.
His menials quickly pace to devastate,
Disease and pain stain'd earth perambulate
Man to torment, his mortal structure tear
Till rest be found beneath the turfy bier.
They all appear'd in ghostly spectre-train
Combin'd to pour destruction
upon him,
Who God's great enemy having thus obey'd,
Was to their power a bending subject made.
Angelic legions, who bless'd earth enjoy'd,
Had in her bosom golden harps employ'd
In heavenly chord, and joyful tun'd the voice
Amid her groves, in notes melodious,
Ceas'd cheering song, spread silent holy wing,
Took flight precipitate to heaven to sing
Jehovah's praise, earth stain'd too prostitute
For harmony celestial to salute.
Hell rous'd her legions;-from her realms issue
Her spirits joyous,-hither wing her crew
With giant haste. They pave a broad high-path
O'er Chaos, from her gates to sin-stain'd earth.
Fastosus, who his children plung'd in hell,
Led band infernal, superb here to dwell:
Mendax, and Avaritia, † at his heels
To sound his trumpets, gorge Crudelis' spoils,
Pursu'd their chieftain; fiery Crudelis
With solemn aspect hugg'd the bloody cross
Of torturing Furor; § Bellum || peals hell-roars;
Discordans jarring raves; Tumultus** howls;
Great Infidelis ++ hugs the poisonous bowls
To stupify, make truly fitting all
For Impiator, ‡‡ with his numerous tribe
Of particolor'd fiends to God deride,
Dark hov'ring o'er the groups on sportive wing
Issuing curses from the flaming tongue.
These landed safely; new form'd earth possest;
There at this day remain the cursed host.
O dreadful deed, consign'd to all mankind,
Through thee we all to evil are inclin'd!
We thus polluted, still corrupt remain
By nature, yet the guilty load sustain ;
Conceiv'd in sin, through it brought forth in pain,
In sorrow live, and shall to dust return.
Still heavenly Father merciful, and kind,
Thy goodness us, chain'd captives, has redeem'd;
In loving kindness to our fallen race,
Not through our goodness, but Thine own free grace,
Thou hast again made plain the way to life,
Spiritual foes subdue and conquer death;
And wilt give us to lasting joy, or wo,
As Thine, or Satan's followers we will be.
Jehovah told the fiend, though victor then,
The woman's seed should conquest lead o'er him ;
That bruis'd her heel, indeed, he sorely had,*
Yet, One from her should crush his impious head.
Then, trembling man thus graciously address'd,
"Ah man! for this, thy act, bright earth is curs'd; (2)
"'Stead of those fruits which here spontaneous spring,
"More noxious plants it hence to thee shall bring;
"The more salubrious shall require thy skill,
"To cultivate, they spring not at thy will:
"By labour thou shalt live;-but here remain,
"Till death commits thee to the earth again;
"From dust I form'd thee; from thy Maker know,
"To it once more most surely thou shalt go.
"This hallow'd garden instantly prepare
"To quit; from it you both must go elsewhere
"To get your living by industrious care;
"The earth's before you, settle where you please,
"Yet Me obey, and peace shall close your days.
"Some of your race in future times will say,
"That I decreed you should Me disobey:
"If these speak truth, and this assert be fact,
"Then can I judge but My own deed and act;
"If by My order man shall do amiss,
"I cannot punish for what is not his,
* See Genesis, chap. iii.
" "Tis inconsistent with My attribute,
"Of rend'ring justice, equity and right;
"But My decrees I surely shall enforce,
"To foes consume, and faithful friends release.
Though I made man, I make not one my foe,
"I will not him to disobedience shew;
"Before you, now, are good and evil set,
"But choose the good, and happiness complete
"Is your reward; but if to evil bend,
"Such choice will in your certain ruin end.
"If to My enemy, your minds incline,
"In rectitude, you never can be Mine ;
"But subjects, servants, of that impious band
Expell❜d My presence, by My just command, "And are for ever cast away from Me,
"As too impure for bless'd eternity.
"Yet, know, those of your race repentant found, "Shall find in Me a Father, Saviour, Friend ;* "Though your offence be great, your God is kind,
"His ways are love, to mercy He's inclin'd.
"O let the wicked wickedness forsake,
"And they shall of eternal life partake;
"I'll to the penitent salvation give,
"One, shall redeem them, Him believe and live; (3)
"But if reject My free-sent grace and peace,
"Wo now begun must never end nor cease."
Pause, my descriptive muse, and let me raise The humble song to the Creator's praise.
* See Ezekiel, chap. xxxiii.
How wonderful Thy works, Almighty God,
They each, and all proclaim Thee supreme Lord!
When viewing heav'n's illumin'd canopy
Convinc'd I'm of Thy glorious Majesty!
How vast Thy power, Omniscience Divine!
How grand the architectural design
Of rolling orbs above, of earth, of sea,
Plann'd, rais'd, created all, Great God, by Thee!
Though Thou, O Lord, from mortal sight art hid,
Yet we may know Thee by Thy holy word:
There man, to thee His gracious will is giv'n!
There see the truths that light thy path to heaven!
While here I live, let me my God revere !
O let me learn my Maker to adore,
And truly give to every neighbour love,
So through my life, Great God, thy ways approve
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