This page needs to be proofread.
Book 3.
Paradiſe loſt.

Wondring; but soon th’ Almighty thus repy'd:
O thou in Heav’n and Earth the only peace
Found out for mankind under wrauth, O thou
My ſole complacence! well thou know’ſt how dear,
To me are all my works, nor Man the leaſt
Though laſt created, that for him I ſpare
Thee from my boſom and right hand, to ſave,
280By looſing thee a while, the whole Race loſt.
Thou therefore whom thou only canſt redeeme,
Thir Nature alſo to thy Nature joyne;
And be thy ſelf Man among men on Earth,
Made fleſh, when time ſhall be, of Virgin ſeed,
By wondrous birth: Be thou in Adams room
The Head of all mankind, though Adams Son.
As in him periſh all men, ſo in thee
As from a ſecond root ſhall be reſtor'd,
As many as are reſtor'd, without thee none.
290His crime makes guiltie all his Sons, thy merit
Imputed ſhall abſolve them who renounce
Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds,
And live in thee tranſplanted, and from thee
Receive new life. So Man, as is moſt juſt,
Shall ſatisfie for Man, be judg'd and die,
And dying riſe, and riſing with him raiſe
His Brethren, ranſomd with his own dear life.
So Heav’nly love ſhal outdoo Helliſh hate,
Giving to death, and dying to redeeme,
300So dearly to redeem what Helliſh hate,
So eaſily deſtroy'd, and ſtill deſtroyes
In thoſe who, when they may, accept not grace.
Nor ſhalt thou by deſcending to aſſume
Mans Nature, leſs'n or degrade thine owne.