But soon revives; death over him no power 420 Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, 425 Neglect not, and the benefit embrace By faith not void of works: this God-like act Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have dy'd, In fin for ever lost from life; this act Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, 430 A gentle wafting to immortal life. 435 To Pearce. this God-like act Annuls thy doom, &c. 432. And fix far deeper in his head their stings Than temp'ral death shall bruise the victor's beel,] Before we come to a conclusion, it may be proper to remark here once for all, that Milton makes no diftinction between then To his disciples, men who in his life Still follow'd him; to them shall leave in charge To teach all nations what of him they learn'd 440 And his falvation, them who shall believe Baptizing in the profluent stream, the fign Of washing them from guilt of fin to life Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall, For death, like that which the Redeemer dy'd. 445 All nations they shall teach; for from that day Not only to the fons of Abraham's loins - Salvation shall be preach'd, but to the fons Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world; So in his feed all nations shall be blest. Then to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he shall afcend 450 With victory, triumphing through the air then and than, but spells both alike then, which must necessarily occafion fome obscurity and confusion. Their too he commonly writes thir, but ⚫this greatly offends the eye, we are so much habituated to the other; and at the same time he frequently uses theirs, and there seems to be no reason why the one should be writ Then ten differently from the other. It is hoped therefore that these things have been alter'd for the better. 445. For death, like that which the Redeemer dy'd.] Dr. Bentley says (and it is not improbable) that the author gave it, - which their Redeemer dy'd. 457.-ex Then enter into glory, and resume His feat at God's right hand, exalted high 1 456 Above all names in Heav'n; and thence shall come, When this world's dissolution shall be ripe, With glory' and pow'r to judge both quick and dead, To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward His faithful, and receive them into bliss, 461 Whether in Heav'n or Earth, for then the Earth Shall all be Paradise, far happier place Than this of Eden, and far happier days. 465 So spake th' Arch-Angel Michaël, then paus'd, As at the world's great period; and our fire Replete with joy and wonder thus reply'd. 457. - exalted high Above all names in Heav'n;] Philip. II. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. Or as it is express'd Eph. I. 20, 21. Hath fet him at his own right hand in the beavenly places, above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. 459. When this world's difssolution shall be ripe,] In the later editions we have the world's: but I prefer this, which is found in the two first; because this reading admits the ictus on the second syllable of the verse (where it ought to be) whereas the other reading throws it off upon the third. Pearce.. 0 469. O Goodness infinite, Goodness. immense! &c.] The poet has very finely represented the joy and gladness of heart, which rifes in Adam upon his discovery of the Messiah. As he sees his day at a distance through types and shadows, he rejoices in it; but when he finds the redemption of man completed, and Paradise again renew'd, he breaks forth in rapture and transport. I have hinted before, that an heroic poem, according to the opinion of the best critics, ought to end happily, and leave the mind of the reader, after having conducted it through many doubts and fears, forrows and disquietudes, in a state of tranquillity and fatisfaction. Milton's fable, O Goodness infinite, Goodness immenfe ! By me done and occafion'd, or rejoice 470 475 Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring, From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. fable, which had so many other qualifications to recommend it, was deficient in this particular. It is here therefore, that the poet has shown a most exquisite judgment, as well as the finest invention, by finding out a method to supply this natural defect in his subject. Accordingly he leaves the Adversary of mankind, in the last view which he gives us of him, under the lowest state of mortification and disappointment. We see him chewing ashes, groveling in the duft, and loaden with fupernumerary pains and torments. On the contrary our two first parents are comforted by dreams and visions, cheared with promises of salvation, and in a manner, raised to a greater 480 The enemies of truth? who then shall guide 486 490 The promise of the Father, who shall dwell 495 To 11, &c. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to ftand against the wiles of the Devil wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 493. What man can do against them, not afraid, Though to the death,] So this pafsage is pointed in Milton's own editions, and I suppose the construction to be, Not afraid of what man can |