To thy delufions; justly fince they fell

Idolatrous but when his purpose is

:

Among them to declare his providence

445

To thee not known, whence haft thou then thy truth,
But from him or his Angels prefident

In every province ? who themselves disdaining
T'approach thy temples, give thee in command
What to the smallest tittle thou shalt say
To thy adorers; thou with trembling fear,
Or like a fawning parafite, obey'st;
Then to thyself afcrib'ft the truth foretold.
But this thy glory shall be soon retrench'd;
No more fhalt thou by oracling abuse

The Gentiles; henceforth oracles are ceas'd,
And thou no more with pomp and facrifice

450

455

Shalt be inquir'd at Delphos or elsewhere,

At least in vain, for they fhall find thee mute.
God hath now fent his living oracle

460

Into the world to teach his final will,

And fends his Spirit of truth henceforth to dwell
In pious hearts, an inward oracle

To all truth requifite for men to know.

465

So fpake our Saviour; but the fubtle Fiend, Though inly ftung with anger and difdain, Diffembled, and this anfwer smooth return'd.

Sharply thou hast insisted on rebuke,

And urg'd me hard with doings, which not will
But mifery hath wrested from me: where

470

Eafily canst thou find one miserable,

And not enforc'd oft-times to part from truth;

If it may ftand him more in stead to lie,

Say and unfay, feign, flatter, or abjure?

But thou art plac'd above me, thou art Lord;
From thee I can and muft fubmifs indure

475

Check or reproof, and glad to 'scape so quit.
Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk,
Smooth on the tongue discours'd, pleasing to th' ear,
And tuneable as fylvan pipe or fong;

480

What wonder then if I delight to hear

Her dictates from thy mouth? most men admire
Virtue, who follow not her lore: permit me
To hear thee when I come (fince no man comes)
And talk at least, though I despair to' attain.
Thy father, who is holy, wife, and pure,
Suffers the hypocrite or atheous priest
To tread his facred courts, and minifter
About his altar, handling holy things,

485

Praying or vowing, and vouchfaf'd his voice
To Balaam reprobate, a prophet yet

490

Infpir'd; difdain not fuch access to me.

To whom our Saviour with unalter'd brow.

Thy coming hither, though I know thy scope,

I bid not or forbid; do as thou find'ft
Permiffion from above; thou canst not more.

495

He added not; and Satan bowing low

His gray diffimulation, difappear'd

Into thin air diffus'd: for now began

Night with her fullen wings to double-shade

500

The defert; fowls in their clay nefts were couch'd;

And now wild beafts came forth the woods to roam.

THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK.