第13章 12

Be sure they will, said th Angel; but from Heavn [ 485 ] Hee to his own a Comforter will send, The promise of the Father, who shall dwell His Spirit within them, and the Law of Faith Working through love, upon thir hearts shall write, To guide them in all truth, and also arme [ 490 ] With spiritual Armour, able to resist

Satans assaults, and quench his fierie darts, What Man can do against them, not affraid, Though to the death, against such cruelties With inward consolations recompenct, [ 495 ] And oft supported so as shall amaze Thir proudest persecuters: for the Spirit Powrd first on his Apostles, whom he sends

To evangelize the Nations, then on all Baptizd, shall them with wondrous gifts endue [ 500 ] To speak all Tongues, and do all Miracles, As did thir Lord before them. Thus they win Great numbers of each Nation to receave With joy the tidings brought from Heavn: at length Thir Ministry performd, and race well run, [ 505 ]

Thir doctrine and thir story written left, They die; but in thir room, as they forewarne, Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous Wolves, Who all the sacred mysteries of Heavn To thir own vile advantages shall turne [ 510 ] Of lucre and ambition, and the truth With superstitions and traditions taint,

Left onely in those written Records pure, Though not but by the Spirit understood. Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names, [ 515 ] Places and titles, and with these to joine Secular power, though feigning still to act By spiritual, to themselves appropriating The Spirit of God, promisd alike and givn

To all Beleevers; and from that pretense, [ 520 ] Spiritual Lawes by carnal power shall force On every conscience; Laws which none shall finde Left them inrould, or what the Spirit within Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then But force the Spirit of Grace it self, and binde [ 525 ]

His consort Libertie; what, but unbuild His living Temples, built by Faith to stand, Thir own Faith not anothers: for on Earth Who against Faith and Conscience can be heard Infallible? yet many will presume: [ 530 ] Whence heavie persecution shall arise On all who in the worship persevere

Of Spirit and Truth; the rest, farr greater part, Well deem in outward Rites and specious formes Religion satisfid; Truth shall retire [ 535 ] Bestuck with slandrous darts, and works of Faith Rarely be found: so shall the World goe on, To good malignant, to bad men benigne, Under her own waight groaning till the day

Appeer of respiration to the just, [ 540 ] And vengeance to the wicked, at return Of him so lately promissd to thy aid The Womans seed, obscurely then foretold, Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord, Last in the Clouds from Heavn to be reveald [ 545 ] In glory of the Father, to dissolve

Satan with his perverted World, then raise From the conflagrant mass, purgd and refind, New Heavns, new Earth, Ages of endless date Founded in righteousness and peace and love [ 550 ] To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Bliss.