So law appears imperfect; and but given

With purpose to resign them, in full time,

Up to a better covenant; disciplined

From shadowy types to truth; from flesh to spirit;

From imposition of strict laws to free

Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear

To filial; works of law to works of faith.

And therefore shall not Moses, though of God

Highly beloved, being but the minister

Of law, his people into Canaan lead;

But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call,

His name and office bearing, who shall quell

The adversary-Serpent, and bring back

Through the world’s wilderness long-wandered Man

Safe to eternal Paradise of rest.

Meanwhile they, in their earthly Canaan placed,

Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins

National interrupt their public peace,

Provoking God to raise them enemies;

From whom as oft he saves them penitent

By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom

The second, both for piety renowned

And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive

Irrevocable, that his regal throne

For ever shall endure; the like shall sing

All Prophecy, that of the royal stock

Of David (so I name this king) shall rise

A Son, the Woman’s seed to thee foretold,

Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust

All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings

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

But first, a long succession must ensue;

And his next son, for wealth and wisdom famed,

The clouded ark of God, till then in tents

Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine.

Such follow him, as shall be registered

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

Whose foul idolatries, and other faults

Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense

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

Their city, his temple, and his holy ark,

With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey

To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawest

Left in confusion; Babylon thence called.

There in captivity he lets them dwell

The space of seventy years; then brings them back,

Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn

To David, stablished as the days of Heaven.

Returned from Babylon by leave of kings

Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God

They first re-edify; and for a while

In mean estate live moderate; till, grown

In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;

But first among the priests dissention springs,

Men who attend the altar, and should most

Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings

Upon the temple itself: at last they seize

The scepter, and regard not David’s sons;

Then lose it to a stranger, that the true

Anointed King Messiah might be born

Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star,

Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come;

And guides the eastern sages, who inquire

His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold:

His place of birth a solemn Angel tells

To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night;