The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (138 page)

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

BOOK: The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems
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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
6404
shall ascend

452

      

With victory, triumphing
6405
through the air

453

      

Over his foes and thine. There shall surprise

454

      

The serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains

455

      

Through all his
6406
realm, and there
6407
confounded
6408
leave,

456

      

Then enter into glory, and resume

457

      

His seat at God’s right hand, exalted high

458

      

Above all names
6409
in Heav’n, and thence shall come,

459

      

When this world’s dissolution shall be ripe,

460

      

With glory and power to judge both quick
6410
and dead—

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

      

   
So spoke the Arch-Angel Michael, then paused,

467

      

As at the world’s great period;
6411
and our sire,

468

      

Replete
6412
with joy and wonder, thus replied:

469

      

   
“O goodness infinite, goodness immense!

470

      

That all this good of
6413
evil shall produce,
6414

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,
6415
or rejoice

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.
6416

479

      

But say, if our Deliverer up to Heav’n

480

      

Must re-ascend, what will betide
6417
the few

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

      

   
“Be sure they will,” said the Angel, “but from Heav’n

486

      

He to his own a comforter
6418
will send,

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
6419
his fiery darts—

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
6420
so as shall amaze

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
6421

501

      

To speak all tongues,
6422
and do all miracles,

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,
6423
as they forewarn,

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
6424
and ambition, and the truth

512

      

With superstitions and traditions taint,

513

      

Left only in those written records pure,

514

      

Though not but
6425
by the Spirit understood.

515

      

Then shall they
6426
seek to avail themselves of names,

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
6427
power shall force

522

      

On every conscience, laws which none shall find

523

      

Left them enrolled
6428
or what the Spirit within

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.
6429

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

      

Will deem
6430
in outward rites and specious
6431
forms
6432

535

      

Religion satisfied.
6433
Truth shall retire,
6434

536

      

Bestuck with sland’rous darts, and works of faith

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