Book 3.
Paradiſe loſt.
Thy ſovran ſentence, that Man should find grace; For which both Heav’n and Earth ſhall high extoll Thy praiſes, with th' innumerable ſound Of Hymns and ſacred Songs, wherewith thy Throne Encompaſs’d ſhall reſound thee ever bleſt. For ſhould Man finally be loſt, ſhould Man 150Thy creature late ſo lov’d, thy youngeſt Son Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though joynd With his own folly? that be from thee farr, That farr be from thee, Father, who art Judge Of all things made, and judgeſt only right. Or ſhall the Adverſarie thus obtain His end, and fruſtrate thine, ſhall he fulfill His malice, and thy goodneſs bring to naught, Or proud return though to his heavier doom, Yet with revenge accompliſh’t and to Hell 160Draw after him the whole Race of mankind, By him corrupted? or wilt thou thy ſelf Aboliſh thy Creation, and unmake, For him, what for thy glorie thou haſt made? So ſhould thy goodneſs and thy greatneſs both Be queſtiond and blaſpheam’d without defence. To whom the great Creatour thus reply'd. O Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight, Son of my boſom, Son who art alone My word, my wiſdom, and effectual might, 170 All haſt thou ſpok'n as my thoughts are, all As my Eternal purpoſe hath decreed: Man ſhall not quite be loſt, but ſav’d who will, Yet not of will in him, but grace in me Freely voutſaft; once more I will renew His lapſed powers, though forfeit and enthrall’d
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