The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (136 page)

268

From Abraham, son of Isaac, and from him

269

His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win.”

270

Here Adam interposed:

“O sent from Heav’n,

271

Enlight’ner of my darkness, gracious things

272

Thou hast revealed, those chiefly which concern

273

Just Abraham and his seed. Now first I find

274

Mine eyes true-op’ning, and my heart much eased,

275

Erewhile perplexed with thoughts what would become

276

Of me and all mankind. But now I see

277

His day, in whom all nations shall be blest—

278

Favor unmerited by me, who sought

279

Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means.

280

This yet I apprehend not: why to those

281

Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth

282

So many and so various laws are giv’n?

283

So many laws argue so many sins

284

Among them. How can God with such reside?”

285

To whom thus Michael:

“Doubt not but that sin

286

Will reign among them, as of thee begot,

287

And therefore was law giv’n them, to evince
⁶³³⁰

288

Their natural pravity,
⁶³³¹
by stirring up

289

Sin against law to fight, that when they see

290

Law can discover
⁶³³²
sin, but not remove

291

(Save by those shadowy
⁶³³³
expiations
⁶³³⁴
weak,

292

The blood of bulls and goats), they may conclude

293

Some blood more precious must be paid for man,

294

Just for unjust, that
⁶³³⁵
in such righteousness

295

To them by faith imputed they may find

296

Justification
⁶³³⁶
towards God, and peace

297

Of conscience, which the law by ceremonies
⁶³³⁷

298

Cannot appease, nor man the moral part

299

Perform
⁶³³⁸
and, not performing, cannot live.

300

So law appears
⁶³³⁹
imperfect, and but
⁶³⁴⁰
giv’n

301

With purpose to resign
⁶³⁴¹
them, in full time,

302

Up to a better cov’nant, disciplined
⁶³⁴²

303

From shadowy types
⁶³⁴³
to truth, from flesh to spirit,

304

From imposition of strict laws to free

305

Acceptance of large grace, from servile fear

306

To filial, works of law to works of faith.

307

And therefore shall not Moses, though of God

308

Highly belov’d, being but the minister

309

Of law, his people into Canaan lead,

310

But Joshua, whom the gentiles Jesus call,

311

His name and office bearing, who
⁶³⁴⁴
shall quell

312

The adversary-serpent, and bring back

313

Through the world’s wilderness long-wand’red man

314

Safe to eternal Paradise of rest.

315

Meanwhile, they in their earthly Canaan placed,

316

Long time shall dwell and prosper, but
⁶³⁴⁵
when sins

317

National interrupt their public peace,

318

Provoking God to raise them enemies,

319

From whom as oft He saves them penitent

320

By Judges first, then under Kings. Of whom

321

The second,
⁶³⁴⁶
both for piety renowned

322

And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive

323

Irrevocable, that his regal throne

324

Forever shall endure. The like
⁶³⁴⁷
shall sing
⁶³⁴⁸

325

All prophecy, that of the royal stock

326

Of David (so I name this king) shall rise

327

A son, the woman’s seed to thee foretold,

328

Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust

329

All nations, and to kings foretold, of kings

330

The last, for of his reign shall be no end.

331

But first a long succession must ensue,

332

And his
⁶³⁴⁹
next son,
⁶³⁵⁰
for wealth and wisdom famed,

333

The clouded ark of God, till then in tents

334

Wand’ring, shall in a glorious temple enshrine.

335

Such follow him as shall be registered
⁶³⁵¹

336

Part good, part bad—of bad the longer scroll,

337

Whose foul idolatries and other faults

338

Heaped to the popular sum,
⁶³⁵²
will so incense

339

God, as to
⁶³⁵³
leave them, and expose their land,

340

Their city, His temple, and His holy ark,

341

With all His sacred things, a
⁶³⁵⁴
scorn and prey.

342

To that proud city, whose high walls thou saw’st

343

Left in confusion, Babylon thence called.

344

There in captivity He lets them dwell

345

The space of seventy years,
⁶³⁵⁵
then brings them back,

346

Rememb’ring
⁶³⁵⁶
mercy and His cov’nant sworn

347

To David, stablished
⁶³⁵⁷
as the days of Heav’n.

348

Returned from Babylon by leave of kings
⁶³⁵⁸

349

Their lords, whom God disposed,
⁶³⁵⁹
the house of God

350

They first re-edify,
⁶³⁶⁰
and for a while

351

In mean
⁶³⁶¹
estate
⁶³⁶²
live moderate. Till grown

352

In wealth and multitude, factious they grow.

353

But first among the priests dissention springs,

354

Men who attend
⁶³⁶³
the altar, and should most

355

Endeavor
⁶³⁶⁴
peace. Their strife pollution brings

356

Upon the temple itself. At last they
⁶³⁶⁵
seize

357

The scepter, and regard not David’s sons,