THE ARGUMENT ijj OF THE THIRD BOOK, C0 D 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 juflice and wifdom from all imputation, having created Man free and able enough to have withftood 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 feduced. 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 fatisfaEtion of divine juftice ; Man hath offended the majefty of God by afpiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his progeny devoted to death mulf 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 of this world's outermoft orb ; where wand'ring he firft finds a place, fince call'd The Limbo of Vanity ; what perfons and things fly up thither ; thence comes to the gate of Heaven, defcrib'd afcending by Hairs, and the waters above the firmament that flow about it : His paffage thence to the orb of the fun ; he finds there Uriel the regent of that orb, but firft changes himfelf into the fhape of a meaner Angel ; And pretending a zealous defire to behold the new creation, and Man whom God had plac'd here, inquires of him the place of his habita- tion, and is direeted ; alights firft on mount Niphates. MILTON's
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