Chapter 5 4

At least our envious Foe hath failed, who thought All like himself rebellious, by whose aid [ 140 ] This inaccessible high strength, the seat Of Deitie supream, us dispossest, He trusted to have seisd, and into fraud Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more; Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see, [ 145 ] Thir station, Heavn yet populous retains Number sufficient to possess her Realmes Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent With Ministries due and solemn Rites: But least his heart exalt him in the harme [ 150 ] Already done, to have dispeopld Heavn My damage fondly deemd, I can repair

That detriment, if such it be to lose Self-lost, and in a moment will create Another World, out of one man a Race [ 155 ] Of men innumerable, there to dwell, Not here, till by degrees of merit raisd They open to themselves at length the way Up hither, under long obedience trid, And Earth be changd to Heavn, & Heavn to Earth, [ 160 ] One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end. Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heavn, And by my Word, begotten Son, by thee This I perform, speak thou, and be it don: My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee [ 165 ] I send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep

Within appointed bounds be Heavn and Earth, Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill Infinity, nor vacuous the space. Though I uncircumscribed my self retire, [ 170 ] And put not forth my goodness, which is free To act or not, Necessity and Chance Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate. So spake th Almightie, and to what he spake His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect. [175] Immediate are the Acts of God, more swift Then time or motion, but to human ears Cannot without process of speech be told, So told as earthly notion can receave.