The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve

Mankind’s deliverance. But the voice of God

To mortal ear is dreadful: They beseech

That Moses might report to them his will,

And terrour cease; he grants what they besought,

Instructed that to God is no access

Without Mediator, whose high office now

Moses in figure bears; to introduce

One greater, of whose day he shall foretell,

And all the Prophets in their age the times

Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus, laws and rites

Established, such delight hath God in Men

Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes

Among them to set up his tabernacle;

The Holy One with mortal Men to dwell:

By his prescript a sanctuary is framed

Of cedar, overlaid with gold; therein

An ark, and in the ark his testimony,

The records of his covenant; over these

A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings

Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn

Seven lamps as in a zodiack representing

The heavenly fires; over the tent a cloud

Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night;

Save when they journey, and at length they come,

Conducted by his Angel, to the land

Promised to Abraham and his seed: The rest

Were long to tell; how many battles fought

How many kings destroyed; and kingdoms won;

Or how the sun shall in mid Heaven stand still

A day entire, and night’s due course adjourn,

Man’s voice commanding, ‘Sun, in Gibeon stand,

And thou moon in the vale of Aialon,

Till Israel overcome!’ so call the third

From Abraham, son of Isaac; and from him

His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win.”

Here Adam interposed. “O sent from Heaven,

Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things

Thou hast revealed; those chiefly, which concern

Just Abraham and his seed: now first I find

Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eased;

Erewhile perplexed with thoughts, what would become

Of me and all mankind: But now I see

His day, in whom all nations shall be blest;

Favour unmerited by me, who sought

Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means.

This yet I apprehend not, why to those

Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth

So many and so various laws are given;

So many laws argue so many sins

Among them; how can God with such reside?”

To whom thus Michael. “Doubt not but that sin

Will reign among them, as of thee begot;

And therefore was law given them, to evince

Their natural pravity, by stirring up

Sin against law to fight: that when they see

Law can discover sin, but not remove,

Save by those shadowy expiations weak,

The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude

Some blood more precious must be paid for Man;

Just for unjust; that, in such righteousness

To them by faith imputed, they may find

Justification towards God, and peace

Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies

Cannot appease; nor Man the mortal part

Perform; and, not performing, cannot live.