CHAP. I. The Guardian Angels leave Paradife on Man's Tranfgreffion: GOD thereupon fends his Son to judge the Tranfgreffors. M EAN while the defpiteful and heinous Action of SATAN, which he had done in PARADISE, was known in Heaven, and how he having poffefs'd the Serpent had perverted Ev E, and fhe her Hufband, to tafte of the fatal forbidden Fruit: For what can efcape the Eye of GOD, who fees every Thing, or deceive him who knows all Things? Who just and wife in all his Ways, did not hinder SATAN from attempting to corrupt the Mind of MAN, who was arm'd with Free-will and Strength, compleatly fufficient to have discover'd and repuls'd all Stratagems whatever, either of Foe or pretended Friend: For ftill they knew, and ought ever to have remember'd the high Injunction, not to tafte of that Fruit whoever tempted them; which they not obeying, incurr'd (and what could they do lefs?) the Penalty; and having in that one Sin committed Rebellion, Difobedience, Pride, Senfuality, and Ingratitude, they deferv'd to fall. THE Angels, whofe Charge it was to guard PARADISE, afcended from thence in Hafte up into Heaven, filent and forrowful for MAN; for by this Time they knew his fallen State, much wondering how the fubtle Fiend had found Entrance into PARADISE unfeen. As foon as the unwelcome News arrived from Earth to the Gates of Heaven, all were dif pleas'd who heard it: That Time, dim Sadness did not fpare fpare heavenly Faces; yet, as it was mix'd with Pity, it did not leffen their Bliss. The Angels crowded about those who were just arriv'd from Earth, to hear and know how every Thing befell: They made Haste towards the fupreme Throne, to give the Account, and make appear with juft Plea their utmoft Diligence, which was well approv'd of; when the most high eternal FATHER utter'd his Voice thus in Thunder, from amidst his fecret Cloud. YE affembled Angels, and Powers return'd from your unfuccefsful Charge! don't be difmay'd nor troubled at these bad Tidings from the Earth, which could not be prevented by your fincerest Care, you being lately foretold what would come to pafs, when first SATAN crofs'd the Gulph from Hell. I told ye then, that he should prevail, and fucceed in his bad Purpofe; that MAN fhould be feduc'd and flatter'd out of all, by reafon of his believing Lies against his MAKER; no Decree of mine concurring to neceffitate his Fall, or in the leaft have any Impulfe upon his Free-will, which was left in even Balance to its own Inclination: But he is fallen; and now what remains, but that the mortal Sentence should pass on his Tranfgreffion? ------ DEATH was threaten'd to be inflicted on him the Day that he tranfgrefs'd, which he already prefumes vain and void, because yet not inflicted (as he was afraid) by fome immediate Stroke; but he foon shall find, before the Day is finish'd, that Forbearance is no Acquittance: Juftice fhall not return fcorn'd, as Bounty has. But whom do I fend to judge them? Whom but Thee, my Son and Vicegerent? To Thee I have made over all Judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. It may easily be feen, that I intend Mercy to be Companion with Juftice, when I fend Thee, the Friend of MAN, MAN, his Mediator, (a) his defign'd and voluntary Ranfom and Redeemer, (who is to take upon himself the Nature of a MAN) to judge fallen MA N. So fpake the Almighty FATHER; and unfolding his bright Glory toward the Right-Hand, fhone forth his whole Deity on his SON; in whom that Glory which in the FATHER was invifible, was exprefs and manifeft; and who divinely gave this mild Answer: ETERNAL FATHER! It is Thou who art to make Decrees; it is my Part, both in Heaven and Earth, to obey thy fupreme Will; that Thou in me, thy beloved SoN, may'ft always be well pleafed. I go to judge thofe, who have tranfgrefs'd thy Law on Earth; but Thou knoweft, whoever is judged, the worst muft light upon me, in the Fullness of Time; for fo I undertook before Thee, and now not repenting, obtain this of Right, that I may mitigate their Doom, which is to fall on me: Yet I fhall fo temper Justice with Mercy, as may fhew them both to be fully fatiffied, and appeafe Thee. There will be no Need of Attendance or Train, where none are to behold the Judgment, but those two who are to be judged: SATAN convicted by Flight, and Rebel to all Law, is best condemn'd when abfent; for Conviction does not belong to the Serpent. THUS faying, he rofe from his radiant Seat of Glory, high and equal to the FATHER: THRONES and POWERS, PRINCEDOMS and DOMINATIONS miniftering Y fo abominable and odious to the infinite Holiness of the Deity, that he could not be acceptable, without an Advocate and Interceffor. (a) Mediator; Fr. Ital. Sp. cefs to God; but it made him from the Lat. i. e. One that is in the middle between two different Perfons; a Manager between Perfons at Variance; an Interceffor, a Peace Maker. Before Sin, Adam had free Ac ftering to him, accompanied him to the Gate of Heaven; from whence EDEN and all the Coaft lay in Profpect: Strait he defcended down: (the Speed of Gods can't be meafur'd by Time, though it may be thought to move ever fo fwiftly.). Now the Sun was defcending towards the Weft after Noon, and gentle Breezes, at their due Hour, rofe to cool and refresh the Earth, and bring on the Evening; when he, his Wrath more affwag'd, came both the mild Judge and Interceffor, to pass Sentence upon MAN. ADAM and Eve heard the Voice of the Lord GOD, walking in the Garden in the Cool of the Day, brought to their Ears by foft Winds; they heard, and hid themfelves from his Prefence among the thickest Trees in the Garden, both Man and Wife; 'till GOD approaching, thus call'd aloud to ADAM: ADAM! where art thou? thou wert us'd to meet my coming with Joy, and fee me far off; I am not pleas'd that I mifs thee here, and am entertain'd with Solitude, where (as it was obviously thy Duty) thou us'd to appear before me uncall'd for: Or do I come lefs confpicuous? Or what Change in thee caufes thy Abfence? Or what Chance detains thee? forth! Come AT that Call he came forth, and Ev E with him, more unwilling than he, though she had been the first to offend; they were both in a State of Difcompofure, and out of Countenance: There was no Love in their Looks, either to GoD or one another; but apparent Guilt, Shame, Perturbation, Defpair, Anger, Obftinacy, Hate, and Guile; when ADAM, after fault'ring a great while, thus briefly anfwer'd: I HEARD Thee in the Garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and hid myself. --- To whom the gracious Judge, without Reproach, made An fwer.--- fwer. Thou haft often heard my Voice and hast not been afraid, but always rejoic'd; how is it become now fo dreadful to thee? Who hath told thee that thou art naked? Haft thou eaten of the Tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou fhould'st not eat? To whom ADA M, forely befet, replied: O Heaven! in fad Difficulty I ftard this Day before my Judge; either to undergo the total Punishment of the Crime myself, or else to accufe my other Self, fhe who is the Partner of my Life; whofe Failings, while fhe remains faithful to me, I fhould conceal, and not expofe to Blame by my Complaint. But ftrict Neceflity and calamitous Reftraint overcome me, left both Sin and Punishment, however infupportable they may be, fall wholly upon my Head; though fhould I be filent, thou would'ft eafily difcover what I conceal'd. ------ This Woman, whom thou madeft to be my Help, and gaveft to me as thy perfect Gift, fo good, fo fit, fo acceptable, fo divine, that from her Hand I could not expect any Ill; and what fhe did, let it in itself be what it would, her very doing it feem'd to juftify the Deed; fhe gave me of the Tree, and I did eat! --- To whom the fovereign Prefence of the Son of GOD made this Reply: Was fhe thy God? Or was she made thy Guide or Superior? Nay, was fhe made equal to thee? that thou should'st resign thy Manhood to her, and the Place where GOD had fet thee above her, who was made of thee and for thee: Thy Perfection far excell'd her's in all real Dignity: She indeed was adorn'd with much Beauty, and amiable to attract thy Love, not thy Subjection; and her Gifts were fuch as appear'd well under Government, but unfeemly to bear Rule; which was thy Part, hadft thou known thyfelf as thou oughteft to have |