So were created, nor can justly accuse

Through all restraint broke loose he wings his way

Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,

Upon his own rebellious head. And now

For man will hearkn to his glozing lyes,

What pleasure I from such obedience paid,

Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.

If him by force九九藏书网 he can destroy, or worse,

Useless and vain, of freedom both despoild,

Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed

And Man there plact, with purpose to assay [ 90 ]

Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyss

Which had no less provd certain unforeknown.

Wherein past, present, future he beholds,

Prescribd, n

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o barrs of Hell, nor all the chains

Transports our adversarie, whom no bounds

Thus to his onely Son foreseeing spake.

And Spirits, both them who stood and them who faild;

Of true allegiance, constant Faith or Love,

Thir will, disposd by absolute Decree [ 115 ]

Made passive both, had servd necessitie, [ 110 ]

Hee www.99lib.netand his faithless Progenie: whose fault?

When Will and Reason (Reason also is choice)

Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of mee

Directly towards the new created World,

All he could have; I made him just and right,

Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.

Where onely what they needs must do, appeard, [ 105 ]

Not

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free, what proof could they have givn sincere

By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert

And easily transgress the sole Command,

Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew,

Not mee. They therefore as to right belongd,

Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall, [ 95 ]

Not farr off Heavn, in the Precincts of light,

Thir maker, o

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r thir making, or thir Fate,

As if predestination over-ruld

Not what they would? what praise could they receive?

Such I created all th Ethereal Powers [ 100 ]

Wide interrupt can hold; so bent he seems

Onely begotten Son, seest thou what rage [ 80 ]

Him God beholding from his prospect high,

On desparate reveng, that shall redound [ 85 ]