That who advance his glory, not their own, Them he himself to glory will advance.
So spake the Son of God; and here again 145 Satan had not to answer, but stood struck With guilt of his own sin, for he himself Insatiable of glory had lost all, Yet of another plea bethought him soon.
Of glory, as thou wilt, said he, so deem, Worth or not worth the seeking, let it pass: But to a kingdom thou art born, ordain'd To sit upon thy father David's throne; By mother's side thy father; though thy right Be now in powerful hands, that will not part 155
Easily from possession won with arms : Judæ now and all the Promis'd Land, Reduc'd a province under Roman yoke, Obeys Tiberius; nor is always rul'd With temp'rate sway; oft have they violated 160 The temple, oft the law with foul affronts,
Abominations rather, as did once Antiochus: and think'st thou to regain Thy right by sitting still or thus retiring ? So did not Maccabeus: he indeed
Retir'd unto the desert, but with arms; And o'er a mighty king so oft prevail'd, That by strong hand his family obtain'd [usurp'd, Though priests, the crown, and David's throne With Modin and her suburbs once content. If kingdom move thee not, let move thee zeal And duty; zeal and duty are not slow;
But on occasion's forelock watchful wait. They themselves rather are occasion best, Zeal of thy father's house, duty to free Thy country from her Heathen servitude; So shalt thou best fulfil, best verify
The Prophets old, who sung thy endless reign; The happier reign the sooner it begins; Reign then; what canst thou better do the while ? To whom our Saviour answer thus return'd :
All things are best fulfill'd in their due time, And time there is for all things, truth hath said: If of my reign prophetic writ hath told That it shall never end, so when begin The Father in his purpose hath decreed, He in whose hand all times and seasons roll. What if he hath decreed that I shall first Be try'd in humble state, and things adverse, By tribulations, injuries, insults,
Contempts, and scorns, and snares, and violence, Suffering, abstaining, quietly expecting, Without distrust or doubt, that he may know What I can suffer, how obey? who best Can suffer, best can do; best reign, who first 195 Well hath obey'd; just trial ere I merit My exaltation without change or end. But what concerns it thee when I begin My everlasting kingdom, why art thou Solicitous, what moves thy inquisition ? Know'st thou not that my rising is thy fall, And my promotion will be thy destruction?
To whom the Tempter inly rack'd reply'd : Let that come when it comes; all hope is lost Of my reception into grace; what worse? For where no hope is left, is left no fear: If there be worse, the expectation more Of worse torments me than the feeling can. I would be at the worst; worst is my port, My harbour, and my ultimate repose, The end I would attain, my final good. My error was my error, and my crime My crime; whatever for itself condemn'd And will alike be punish'd, whether thou Reign or reign not; though to that gentle brow 215 Willingly I could fly, and hope thy reign, From that placid aspéct and meek regard, Rather than aggravate my evil state, Would stand between me and thy Father's ire (Whose ire I dread more than the fire of Hell) 220
A shelter and a kind of shading cool Interposition, as a summer's cloud. If I then to the worst that can be haste, Why move thy feet so slow to what is best, Happiest both to thyself and all the world, That thou who worthiest art should'st be their king? Perhaps thou linger'st in deep thoughts detain'd
Of th' enterprise so hazardous and high; No wonder, for though in thee be united What of perfection can in man be found, Or human Nature can receive, consider Thy life hath yet been private, most part spent Volume III.
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