第11章 10

Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise Expect with mortal paine: say where and when Thir fight, what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel [ 385 ]. To whom thus Michael. Dream not of thir fight, As of a Duel, or the local wounds Of head or heel: not therefore joynes the Son Manhood to God-head, with more strength to foil

Thy enemie; nor so is overcome [ 390 ] Satan, whose fall from Heavn, a deadlier bruise, Disabld not to give thee thy deaths wound: Which hee, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, Not by destroying Satan, but his works In thee and in thy Seed: nor can this be, [ 395 ] But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,

Obedience to the Law of God, imposd On penaltie of death, and suffering death, The penaltie to thy transgression due, And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: [ 400 ] So onely can high Justice rest appaid. The Law of God exact he shall fulfill Both by obedience and by love, though love

Alone fulfill the Law; thy punishment He shall endure by coming in the Flesh [ 405 ] To a reproachful life and cursed death, Proclaiming Life to all who shall believe In his redemption, and that his obedience Imputed becomes theirs by Faith, his merits To save them, not thir own, though legal works. [ 410 ]

For this he shall live hated, be blasphemd, Seisd on by force, judgd, and to death condemnd A shameful and accurst, naild to the Cross By his own Nation, slaine for bringing Life; But to the Cross he nailes thy Enemies, [ 415 ] The Law that is against thee, and the sins Of all mankinde, with him there crucifid,

Never to hurt them more who rightly trust In this his satisfaction; so he dies, But soon revives, Death over him no power [ 420 ] Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light Returne, the Starres of Morn shall see him rise Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems,

His death for Man, as many as offerd Life [ 425 ] Neglect not, and the benefit imbrace By Faith not void of workes: this God-like act Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have dyd, In sin for ever lost from life; this act Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength [ 430 ] Defeating Sin and Death, his two maine armes,

And fix farr deeper in his head thir stings Then temporal death shall bruise the Victors heel, Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like sleep, A gentle wafting to immortal Life. [ 435 ] Nor after resurrection shall he stay Longer on Earth then certaine times to appeer To his Disciples, Men who in his Life

Still followd him; to them shall leave in charge To teach all nations what of him they learnd [ 440 ] And his Salvation, them who shall beleeve Baptizing in the profluent streame, the signe Of washing them from guilt of sin to Life Pure, and in mind prepard, if so befall, For death, like that which the redeemer dyd. [ 445 ]

All Nations they shall teach; for from that day Not onely to the Sons of Abrahams Loines Salvation shall be Preacht, but to the Sons Of Abrahams Faith wherever through the world; So in his seed all Nations shall be blest. [ 450 ]