To whom the Father, without Cloud, serene. [ 45 ]

All thy request for Man, accepted Son,

Obtain, all thy request was my Decree:

But longer in that Paradise to dwell,

The Law I gave to Nature him forbids:

Those pure immortal Elements that know [ 50 ]

No gross, no unharmoneous mixture foule,

Eject him tainted now, and purge him off

As a distemper, gross to aire as gross,

And mortal food, as may dispose him best

For dissolution wrought by Sin, that first [ 55 ]

Distemperd all things, and of incorrupt

Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts

Created him endowd, with Happiness

And Immortalitie: that fondly lost,

This other servd but to eternize woe; [ 60 ]

Till I provided Death; so Death becomes

His final remedie, and after Life

Trid in sharp tribulation, and refind

By Faith and faithful works, to second Life,

Wakt in the renovation of the just, [ 65 ]

Resignes him up with Heavn and Earth renewd.

But let us call to Synod all the Blest

Through Heavns wide bounds; from them I will not hide

My judgments, how with Mankind I proceed,

As how with peccant Angels late they saw; [ 70 ]

And in thir state, though firm, stood more confirmd.

He ended, and the Son gave signal high

To the bright Minister that watchd, hee blew

His Trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps

When God descended, and perhaps once more [ 75 ]

To sound at general Doom. Th Angelic blast

Filld all the Regions: from thir blissful Bowrs

Of Amarantin Shade, Fountain or Spring,

By the waters of Life, where ere they sate

In fellowships of joy: the Sons of Light [ 80 ]

Hasted, resorting to the Summons high,

And took thir Seats; till from his Throne supream

Th Almighty thus pronouncd his sovran Will.