join'd in one, equal with him who is the begotten SON? by whom (for he was the Word) the Almighty FATHER made all Things, even thee and all the other Spirits of Heaven, who were by him created in their bright Orders, crown'd with Glory, and given glorious Names, THRONES, DOMINATIONS, PRINCEDOMS, VIRTUES, and POWERS, real and effential POWERS, which are not obfcur'd by his Reign, but made more illuftrious; fince he becoming our Head, becomes one of our Number, his Laws become our Laws, and all Honour done to him returns back again to us.Then ceafe this impious Fury, and tempt not these Angels to fin; but haften to appeafe the Wrath of the incens'd FATHER, and the Wrath of the incens'd SON, and repent in Time while Pardon may be found.

THUS Spoke ABDIEL, the faithful and fervent Seraph, but none feconded his Zeal, as judg'd rafh and fingular, and out of Season, at which SATAN rejoiced, and grown more haughty thus reply'd:

SAY'ST thou that we were made then? and the Work of fecondary Hands, by a Task transferr'd from the FATHER to the SON? A ftrange and new Point of Doctrine! which we would know whence was learn'd: Who is it that faw when this Creation was? Doft thou remember any Thing about thy being made, while the Maker was giving thee Being? We know no Time when we were not, as we are now; we know of none before us, but were produc'd by a natural Course of Things, felf-rais'd by our own quick'ning Power, the ripe Birth of this our native Heaven, of which we are the natural Sons: Our Power and Strength is our own, which fhall teach us Deeds of the highest Importance, to try by Proof who is our Equal: Then thou shalt behold, whether we intend to addrefs and furround the Almighty Throne

Throne with Adoration, or with Defiance. Do thou go and carry this Report and thefe Tidings to the anointed King, and make Hafte before fomething worse intercept thy Flight.

SATAN fpoke thus, and a hoarfe Murmur gave Applaufe to his Words through the infinite Hoft, like the Sound of deep Waters; nevertheless the flaming and undaunted Seraph ABDIEL, though furrounded by Foes and alone, thus anfwered boldly:

OH alienated from GoD, Spirit forfaken of all Good, and accurs'd! I fee that thy Fall is determin'd, and thy unhappy Followers involv'd in this perfidious Evil; the Contagion being spread both of thy Crime and Punishment. Be not henceforth any more troubled, how to get rid of the Yoke of GoD's MESSIAH; thofe indulgent Laws will not be now vouchfaf'd, but other Decrees not to be recall'd are gone forth against thee. That golden Sceptre which thou didft refufe to obey, is now chang'd to a Rod of Iron, to bruife and break thy Dilobedience. Well didft thou advise me to fly these wicked and devoted Tents, yet not for thy Advice or Threats do I do it, but left the Wrath that threatens, raging into a fudden Flame, should deftroy all without Diftinction; for expect foon to feel his Thunder on thy Head, a devouring Fire; then mourning, learn to know who is thy Creator, and who hath Power to uncreate and destroy thee.

THE Seraph ABDIEL fpoke thus, who was found faithful among the Faithlefs, alone found faithful among innumerable falfe ones; he kept his Loyalty, Love, and Zeal unmov'd, unshaken, unfeduc'd, and unterrified: Though he was fingle, neither their Number nor Example prevail'd with him to fwerve

from

from the Truth, nor alter'd the Conftancy of his Mind: He pafs'd forth from amidst them, through hoftile Scorns, which, being much fuperior to, he eafily sustain'd, nor ftood in Fear of any Violence, but returning their Scorn back again upon them, he turn'd his Face from thofe proud Towers, doom'd to swift Deftruction.

The End of the FIFTH BOOK,

ΤΗΕ

THE

SIXTH BOOK

O F

PARADISE LOST.

R

The ARGUMENT.

APHAEL continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel went forth to Battle against Satan and his Angels; the firft Fight defcrib'd. Satan and his Powers retire under Night: He calls a Council; invents devilish Engines, which in the fecond Day's Fight put Michael and his Angels to fome Disorder, but they at length pulling up Mountains, overwhelmed both the Force and Machines of Satan. The Tumult not ending, GOD on the third Day fends the Meffiah his Son; for whom he had referv'd the Glory of that Victory: He, in the Power of his Father coming to the Place, and caufing all his Legions to ftand still on either Side, with his Chariot

and

and Thunder, driving into the midst of his Enemies, pursues them, unable to refift, towards the Wall of Heaven; which opening they leap down with Horror and Confufion into the Place of Punishment prepar'd for them in the Deep: Meffiah returns with Triumph to his Father.

CHAP. I.

Raphael relates how Michael and Gabriel went forth to Battle against Satan; the firft Fight deScrib'd.

BDIEL the dreadlefs Angel, held his Way all Night unpurfu'd through the wide Plains of Heaven; till returning Morning brought on the Light. There is a Cave within the Mountain of GoD, and not far diftant from his Throne, where by turns in a continual Round, Light, and Darkness, lodge and diflodge; which makes through Heaven an agreeable Change, like Day and Night: Light iffues forth at one Door, and at the other obedient Darkness enters, till the Hour come for her to draw a Veil over the Heavens, (tho' what is call'd Darkness there, might feem Twilight here) and now went forth the Morning, fuch as it is in the highest Heavens, array'd in a celeftial and golden Hue, and the Night went off when it approach'd fhot through with bright Beams; when what firft met the Sight of ABDIEL was Chariots and flaming Arms, and fiery Steeds, and thick bright Squadrons in Battle array that cover'd all the Plain, reflecting Blaze on Blaze. He perceiv'd War in Readinefs, and found that to be already known, which he thought to have report

ed