io THE ARGUMENTS THE ARGUMENT OF Tan SECOND nOOK4 TH E confultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven : Some advife it, others cliffuade: A third propofal is preferr'd, mention'd before by Satan, to fearch the truth of that prophecy or tradidon in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much in- ferior to themfelves, about this time to be created : Their doubt who shall be fent on this difficult fearch : Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honour'd and applauded. The council thus ceded, the reft betake them feveral ways, and to feveral employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He paffes on his journey to Hell gates, finds them Phut, and who fate there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and drfcci,er to him the great gulph between Hell and Heaven ; with what (1,6- culty he paffes through, direaed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new world which he fought. THE ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK. 0D fitting on his throne fees Satan flying towards this world, then newly created ; fhows him to the Son who fat at his right hand ; foretels the fuccefs of Satan in perverting mankind ; clears his own juaice and wifdom from all imputation, having created Man free and able enough to have withflood his tempter ; yet declares his purpofe of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him (educed. The Son of God renders praifes to his. Father for the manifeftation of his gracious purpofe towards Man ; but God again declares, that grace cannot be extended towards Man without the fatisfaaion of divine juflice ; Man hath offended the majefty of God by afpiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his progeny devoted to death mutt die, unlefs fome one can be found fufficient to anfwer for his offence, and undergo his punifhment. The Son of God freely offers himfelf a ranfome for man : the Father ac- cepts him, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above all names in Heaven and Earth ; commands all the Angels to adore him ; they obey, and hymning to their harps in full quire, celebrate the Father and the Son. Mean while Satan alights upon the bare convex
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