THUS fpoke the Voice of GOD, and the Clouds began to darken all the Hill, and Smoak began to rowl in dufky and heavy Flames; a Sign that Wrath divine was awak'd; nor with lefs Terror began to found from on high the loud etherial Trumpet; at which Command the militant Powers, that stood firm for the Cause of Heaven, (join'd in vaft Bodies of irrefiftable Union) mov'd on their bright Legions in Silence, to the Sound of mufical Inftruments, that breath'd into them an heroick Ardour to great and advent'rous Deeds, under their godlike Leaders, in the Caufe of the ALMIGHTY and his MESSIAH: On they move, fo firm, that it was impoffible for their Ranks to be divided by Hills, Vallies, Woods or Streams, for their March was high above the Ground, and the yielding Air bore up their nimble Tread; as when every Species of Birds came fummon'd over EDE N, flying in orderly Array to receive their Names of Thee: So they march'd over many a Tract and wide Province of Heaven, tenfold the Length of this earthly Globe. At laft, far in the Horizon of the North appear'd a fiery Region, that reach'd the whole Length and the utmost Depth, drawn up in Array of Battle; and on nearer View might be feen the bright Tops of innumerable Spears, a Throng of Helmets, and Shields with various Ornaments and boafting Devices: Thefe were the united Powers of SATAN, haftning on with furious Expedition; for they imagin'd that very Day, either by Conqueft or by Surprize, to win the Mountain of GOD, and to fet upon Throne the proud Ufurper and Envier of his Power; but their Thoughts prov'd empty and vain in the Mid-way: Though at firft it feem'd very ftrange to us, that Angels fhould make War against Angels, and meet in fierce Combat, who were us'd to meet fo often unanimous in Feftivals of Love and Joy, and as the Sons of one great Sire, praifing the eternal FA his THER2 THER. But now the Shout began for the Battle, and the rufhing Sound of the Onfét, which put an End to all milder Thoughts. SATAN fat high in the Midft in his Sun-bright Chariót, exalted like a God, an Idol of divine Majefty, enclos'd with flaming Cherubim and with golden Shields; then lighted from his refplendent Throne, (for now betwixt the two Armies there was but fmall Distance left, and Front presented to Front ftood in terrible Array, extending to a prodigious Length) and before the Ranks of the rebellious Spirits, just when the Armies were about to join, SATAN advancing with vaft and haughty Strides, came fwelling with imaginary Power, and arm'd in Adamant and Gold: The Seraph ABDIEL could not endure that Sight, where he stood among the Mightieft, bent on the Performance of greatest Actions; and thus he searches and confiders his own undaunted Heart: OH Heaven! that there fhould yet remain fuch a Refemblance of the Higheft, where Faith and Truth remain no longer: Wherefore should not Strength and Might fail when deftitute of Virtue, or prove weakeft where it is most presumptuous? Though to Appearance he seems unconquerable, I mean (trufting in the Affiftance of the ALMIGHTY) to try his Power; whose Reason I have already try'd, and found to be falfe and unfound: Nor is it any Thing but juft, that he who hath got the better in the Debate of Truth, should do the fame alfo in Arms, and become a Conqueror in both Difputes alike; though when Reason hath to deal with Force, the Contest is brutish and foul, yet it is most fit that Reason should overcome. Confidering thus within himself, and stepping out from his armed Companions oppofite to SATAN, his daring Foe, he met him half-way, who was more incens'd, cens'd, to fee him advance fo boldly towards him, and to hear from him this Defiance: PROUD Angel! art thou met? Thy Hope was to have reach'd the Height of thy Afpiring without Oppofition, and to have found the Throne of GOD unguarded, and his Side abandon'd, at the Terror of thy Power and potent Voice: Thou Fool! not to confider, how vain it is to rife up in Arms against the ALMIGHTY; who out of the fmalleft Things could have rais'd Armies continually without End, to defeat thy Folly; or with his own Hand, which reaches beyond all Limit, without any other Affiftance could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd all thý Legions under Darkness: But thou may'st see that all are not of thy Train; there be fome holy Angels befides myself, who esteem Fidelity and Piety towards GoD, though not visible to thee, when I alone feem'd in thy World erroneously to diffent from all: Thou feeft my Party, and now may'ft learn too late, that when Thousands err, fome few may be in the right. To whom SATAN, with malicious and fcornful Eyes, gave Anfwer: IN the wifh'd-for Hour of my Revenge, but ill for thee, art thou return'd from Flight, whom I have been first seeking, feditious Angel! now art thou come to receive that Reward which thou haft merited, the first Tryal of this Right-Hand provok'd; fince that Tongue infpir'd with Contradiction, firft dar'd to oppose a third Part of the Gods, met in Council to affert their Godheads, who while they feel divine Vigour within themselves, neither can or will allow Omnipotence to be the Attribute of any. But well it is thou art come before thy Fellows, ambitious to win from me fomething to brag of, that thy Success may be an Example of Destruction to the reft; only I have given thee this Paufe between, (left if I had not, thou fhould'ft have boafted that I could not anfwer thee) to let thee know, that at first I thought that Liberty and Heaven had been the fame Thing to heavenly Souls; but now I perceive that most are so flothful, that they had rather ferve, be attending Spirits, and train'd up in Festivals and Songs; fuch are thefe thou haft arm'd, the finging Minftrelfy of Heaven, Slavery contending against Freedom, as the Comparison of this Day's Actions shall prove. To whom in few Words A B DIE L reply'd fternly: Apoftate Spirit! thou err'ft ftill, and wilt find no End of erring, being out of the Path of Truth; unjuftly thou brand'ft the Service that GoD or Nature ordains with the Name of Servitude; GoD and Nature command the fame Things, when he who rules is moft worthy and most excellent above thofe he governs. It is Servitude to ferve the Unwife, or who hath rebell'd against those that are wörthier than himfelf, as thy Followers now ferve thee, thou thyself not being free, but in Slavery even to thyself, yet impioufly dar'ft upbraid our Obedience. Do thou reign in Hell, thy Kingdom, and let me ferve the everbleffed GOD in Heaven, and obey his divine Commands, which are worthiest to be obey'd! yet do not thou expect Realms, but Chains in Hell, and Punishment; mean while receive from me (who juft now thou faid'ft was return'd from Flight) this Greeting upon thy wicked Head. Saying this he lifted up his Arm to ftrike a Blow, which immediately with great Strength and Swiftnefs fell on SATAN'S proud Creft, that no Sight nor Motion of fwift Thought could intercept fuch Ruin, much lefs could his Shield: He recoil'd back ten Paces; the tenth his maffy Spear fupported him upon his bended Knee; as if upon Earth fubterranean Winds and Waters had forc'd their Way, and fidelong had push'd a Mountain from its Seat, half funk with all its Trees. The rebellious Angels were feiz'd with Amazement, but more with Rage, to fee their great General thus foil'd; while our Powers were fill'd with Joy and Shouts, foretelling Victory and fierce Defire of Battle; whereat MICHAEL order'd the Arch-Angel Trumpet to be founded through all the Heavens, and the faithful Armies rung with Hofanna to the Higheft: Nor did the adverfe Legions ftand ftill to gaze, but with Sounds as hideous as ours were heavenly, join'd the horrid Shock. Now ftorming Fury arofe, and a Clamour, fuch as 'till now was never heard in Heaven; Arms clafhing upon Armour, made a harsh and terrible Difcord, and the furious Wheels of brazen Chariots raged: The Noife of the Conflict was dreadful, the Hifs of fiery Darts flew in Vollies over Head, and as they flew cover'd either Army with Fire, under which they both rufh'd to Battle, with ruinous Affault and Rage not to be extinguifh'd: All Heaven refounded, and all Earth had it been then would have been fhaken to its Centre: What Wonder? when Millions of encountering fierce Angels fought on each Side, the leaft of whom could move thefe Elements, and arm himself with all their Force: How much more Power had they, Army against Army, warring without Number, to raise dreadful Combuftion, and difturb (though they had not Power to deftroy) their native Seat! had not the Eternal and Almighty King, from the Seat of his Power, over-rul'd and fet Limits to their Power: Though their Number was such, that each Legion might be thought a great Army, in Strength each armed Hand was as that of an entire Legion; they were led in Fight, yet each fingle Warrior feem'd like a Leader, and as in chief; expert, and knowing when to advance, when to ftand or turn the Sway of Battle, when to open, and when to clofe the Ranks; they had no Thought of Flight or of Retreat, or any unbecoming Action that argued Fear: |