Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Online
Authors: John Milton,Burton Raffel
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Literary Collections, #Poetry, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #English poetry
447 | | Not only to the sons of Abraham’s loins |
448 | | Salvation shall be preached, but to the sons |
449 | | Of Abraham’s faith wherever through the world. |
450 | | So in his seed all nations shall be blest. |
451 | | Then to the Heav’n of Heav’ns he |
452 | | With victory, triumphing |
453 | | Over his foes and thine. There shall surprise |
454 | | The serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains |
455 | | |
456 | | Then enter into glory, and resume |
457 | | His seat at God’s right hand, exalted high |
458 | | Above all names |
459 | | When this world’s dissolution shall be ripe, |
460 | | With glory and power to judge both quick |
461 | | To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward |
462 | | His faithful, and receive them into bliss, |
463 | | Whether in Heav’n or earth, for then the earth |
464 | | Shall all be Paradise, far happier place |
465 | | Than this of Eden, and far happier days.” |
466 | | |
467 | | As at the world’s great period; |
468 | | Replete |
469 | | |
470 | | |
471 | | And evil turn to good, more wonderful |
472 | | Than that which by creation first brought forth |
473 | | Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand, |
474 | | Whether I should repent me now of sin |
475 | | By me done and occasioned, |
476 | | Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring, |
477 | | To God more glory, more good-will to men |
478 | | From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. |
479 | | But say, if our Deliverer up to Heav’n |
480 | | Must re-ascend, what will betide |
481 | | His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd, |
482 | | The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide |
483 | | His people, who defend? Will they not deal |
484 | | Worse with his followers than with him they dealt?” |
485 | | |
486 | | He to his own a comforter |
487 | | The promise of the Father, who shall dwell |
488 | | His Spirit within them, and the law of faith, |
489 | | Working through love, upon their hearts shall write, |
490 | | To guide them in all truth, and also arm |
491 | | With spiritual armor, able to resist |
492 | | Satan’s assaults, and quench |
493 | | What man can do against them, not afraid, |
494 | | Though to the death, against such cruelties |
495 | | With inward consolations recompensed, |
496 | | And oft supported |
497 | | Their proudest persecutors. For the Spirit, |
498 | | Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends |
499 | | T’ evangelize the nations, then on all |
500 | | Baptized, shall them with wond’rous gifts endue |
501 | | To speak all tongues, |
502 | | As did their Lord before them. Thus they win |
503 | | Great numbers of each nation to receive |
504 | | With joy the tidings brought from Heav’n. “At length |
505 | | Their ministry performed, and race well run, |
506 | | Their doctrine and their story written left, |
507 | | They die, but in their room, |
508 | | Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves, |
509 | | Who all the sacred mysteries of Heav’n |
510 | | To their own vile advantages shall turn |
511 | | Of lucre |
512 | | With superstitions and traditions taint, |
513 | | Left only in those written records pure, |
514 | | Though not but |
515 | | Then shall they |
516 | | Places, and titles, and with these to join |
517 | | Secular power, though feigning still to act |
518 | | By spiritual, to themselves appropriating |
519 | | The Spirit of God, promised alike and giv’n |
520 | | To all believers; and from that pretence, |
521 | | Spiritual laws by carnal |
522 | | On every conscience, laws which none shall find |
523 | | Left them enrolled |
524 | | Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then |
525 | | But force the spirit of grace itself, and bind |
526 | | His consort liberty? What but unbuild |
527 | | His living temples, built by faith to stand, |
528 | | Their own faith, not another’s—for on earth |
529 | | Who against faith and conscience can be heard |
530 | | Infallible? “Yet many will presume. |
531 | | Whence heavy persecution shall arise |
532 | | On all who in the worship persevere |
533 | | Of spirit and truth. The rest, far greater part, |
534 | | |
535 | | |
536 | | Bestuck with sland’rous darts, and works of faith |