KEDEMPTION.
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��Fresh wonder raised in these mysterious words :
" Fear not, Mary, thou hast found grace with God. Nor wonder at my ent'ring thine abode, Sacred from foot of man, nor at my words. I Gabriel am, servant of God most high, Sent to announce to thee that sponsal vow, "Which he hath made tow'rds her of Adam's race, Most worthy found to incarnate the Lord. Thou know'st the promise, for thou oft hast heard, How when the first of women fell, deceived, God spared to doom her progeny to death, And gracious promised, wise in his decrees, The woman's Seed should crush the Serpent's head. That time hath come, and now it rests with thee, (For God works not to hurt of man's free will,) To choose if thou wilt be Mother of God. If this high boon, desired by all, conferr'd Alone on thee, be now by thee accept, (The final link of that celestial chain, Whereby the creature is rejoin'd to heav'n,) Then, in thy womb, untouch'd, shalt thou conceive, A Son bring forth, whom thou shalt Jesus name. Great shall he be, the Son of God most high ; Upon his father David's throne shall sit, Forever in the house of Jacob reign, And of his kingdom never know the end."
To him the Virgin, doubting not his words, Yet wond'ring much how what he said could be, Since she by vow had seal'd her virgin state, Thus, with simplicity, now makes reply :
" Well do I know thee, Gabriel, who thou art, One of the seven that stand before the throne,
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