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Paradiſe loſt.
Book 3.
Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate;
As if Predeſtination over-rul’d
Thir will, diſpos’d by abſolute Decree
Or high foreknowledge; they themſelves decreed
Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew,
Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,
Which had no leſs proved certain unforeknown.
So without leaſt impulſe or ſhadow of Fate, 120
Or aught by me immutablie foreſeen,
They treſpaſs, Authors to themſelves in all
Both what they judge and what they chooſe; for ſo
I formd them free, and free they muſt remain,
Till they enthrall themſelves: I elſe muſt change
Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree
Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordain’d
Thir freedom, they themſelves ordain’d thir fall.
The firſt ſort by thir own ſuggeſtion fell,
Self-tempted, ſelf-deprav’d: Man falls deceiv’d 130
By the other firſt: Man therefore ſhall find grace,
The other none: in Mercy and Justice both,
Through Heav’n and Earth, ſo ſhall my glorie excel;
But Mercy firſt and laſt ſhall brighteſt ſhine.
Thus while God ſpake, ambroſial fragrance fill’d
All Heav’n, and in the bleſſed Spirits elect
Senſe of new joy ineffable diffus’d:
Beyond compare the Son of God was ſeen
Most glorious, in him all his Father ſhon
Subſtantially expreſs’d, and in his face 140
Divine compaſſion viſibly appeerd,
Love without end, and without meaſure Grace,
Which uttering thus he to his Father ſpake.
O Father, gracious was that word which clos’d
As if Predeſtination over-rul’d
Thir will, diſpos’d by abſolute Decree
Or high foreknowledge; they themſelves decreed
Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew,
Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,
Which had no leſs proved certain unforeknown.
So without leaſt impulſe or ſhadow of Fate, 120
Or aught by me immutablie foreſeen,
They treſpaſs, Authors to themſelves in all
Both what they judge and what they chooſe; for ſo
I formd them free, and free they muſt remain,
Till they enthrall themſelves: I elſe muſt change
Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree
Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordain’d
Thir freedom, they themſelves ordain’d thir fall.
The firſt ſort by thir own ſuggeſtion fell,
Self-tempted, ſelf-deprav’d: Man falls deceiv’d 130
By the other firſt: Man therefore ſhall find grace,
The other none: in Mercy and Justice both,
Through Heav’n and Earth, ſo ſhall my glorie excel;
But Mercy firſt and laſt ſhall brighteſt ſhine.
Thus while God ſpake, ambroſial fragrance fill’d
All Heav’n, and in the bleſſed Spirits elect
Senſe of new joy ineffable diffus’d:
Beyond compare the Son of God was ſeen
Most glorious, in him all his Father ſhon
Subſtantially expreſs’d, and in his face 140
Divine compaſſion viſibly appeerd,
Love without end, and without meaſure Grace,
Which uttering thus he to his Father ſpake.
O Father, gracious was that word which clos’d
Thy
