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GOD, the Creator, defifting from his Work, though. not wearied, return'd up to his high Abode the Heaven of Heavens, to behold from thence this new created World, being a new Addition to his Empire, how good and how fair it fhew'd in Prospect from his Throne, answering his great Idea; he rode up, follow'd with Acclamations, the fymphonious Sounds of ten thousand Harps, that tun'd Angelical Harmony: (thou may'ft remember for thou heard'ft) The Earth and the Air refounded, and Heaven and all the Constellations echoed to them; the Planets as it were ftood lift'ning, while GOD and the Angels afcended with Joy and great Pomp. They fung aloud, " Open ye everlasting Gates! open ye Heavens your living "Doors! let in the great Creator, magnificently re"turn'd from his Work of fix Days, and that Work " is a World: Open, and henceforth open often! for "GOD will vouchfafe (being pleas'd with the Acti"ons of juft MEN) often to vifit their Dwellings, "and with frequent Intercourfe will fend thither his "Angels, upon Meffages of Grace."

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THUS the glorious Angels fung, as they afcended with the CREATOR into Heaven: The Son of GOD led directly the Way through Heaven to the eternal Manfion of GOD. Now the feventh Evening arofe in EDEN, for the Sun was fet, and Twilight forerunning the Night came on from the Earth; when he arriv'd at the holy Mount of Heaven, the Imperial Throne of GOD, which is fix'd firm for ever and fure, where he fat him down with his great FATHER: For he also went invifible, though he ftay'd, (fuch Privilege hath Omniprefence) for he ordain'd the Work, being the Author and End of all Things; and now refting from his Work, he blefs'd and hallow'd the feventh Day: But it was not kept in Silence; the Harp did not reft, the folemn Pipe and

Dulcimer,

Dulcimer, all Sorts of Organs, and all string'd Inftruments play'd soft Tunes, intermix'd with joyful Chorus, or Voice of fingle Song: Clouds of Incenfe, fmoaking Cenfers of Gold hid the Mountain; and the Song which they fung was of the Creation, the Work of fix Days.

Great are thy Works! they cried, O infinite JEHOVAH! and very great thy Power! what Thought can comprehend Thee, or what Tongue relate Thee! greater now in thy Return, than from the Expulfion of the rebelling Angels: That Day thy Thunders made Thee great; but to create is greater than to deftroy that which is already created. Who can leffen Thee, Thou mighty King! or fet Limits to thy Power? Thou haft eafily repell'd the proud Attempt of the Apoftate Spirits; while they impiously thought, to diminish thy Glory, and draw from Thee the Number of thy Worshippers! Who endeavours to weaken Thee, ferves against his own Purpose, the more to manifeft thy Might: Thou makeft Ufe of his Evil, from whence to create more Good, of which this new made World, which is like another Heaven, is Proof; not far from the Gates of Heaven, founded in the great Space, with numerous Stars, and every Star perhaps deftin'd to be a habitable World; but Thou knoweft their Seasons: Among these Earth cir cumfus'd with the Ocean, the Seat of MEN, and their pleasant Dwelling-place, Thrice happy MEN, and happy the Sons of MEN, whom GOD hath advanc'd thus! created in his Image to dwell there, and worship him, and given him as a Reward to rule over his Works on Earth, in Sea, or the Air, and to multiply a Race of Worshippers, that may be holy and juft: Thrice happy they, if they will but perfevere in Uprightnefs, and know their own Happinefs!

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THUS they fung, and all Heaven was full of HALLELUJAHS: Thus was that great Sabbath (m) kept. And now I have fulfill'd thy Requeft, that afk'd how this World and the Appearance of Things began, and what was done from the Beginning before thy Remembrance; that Pofterity being inform'd by thee might also know. If thou defireft to know any Thing further, furpaffing thy prefent Knowledge as a MAN, fpeak, and if it be permitted I shall inform

thee.

(m) Sabbath; Heb. i. e. A inftituted by God. Reft. This was the first Sabbath

4

The End of the SEVENTH BOOK.

THE

THE

EIGHTH ΒΟΟΚ

O F

PARADISE LOST.

A

The ARGUMENT.

DAM inquires concerning celeftial Motions; is doubtfully anfwer'd, and exborted to fearch rather after Things more worthy of Knowledge. Adam affents to the Advice of Raphael, and being still defirous to detain him, relates to him what he remember'd fince his own Creation; his being plac'd in Paradife, and talking with GOD concerning Solitude and fit Society. Adam relates his firft Meeting and Nuptials with Eve; his Difcourfe with the Angel thereupon, who after repeated Admonitions departs.

CHA P.

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