Page:Paradise Lost (1667).djvu/92

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Book 3.
Paradiſe loſt.


He with his whole Poſteritie muſt die,
210Die hee or Juſtice muſt; unleſs for him
Som other able, and as willing, pay
The rigid ſatisfaction, death for death.
Say, Heav’nly Powers, where ſhall we find ſuch love,
Which of ye will be mortal to redeem
Mans mortal crime, and juſt th' unjuſt to ſave,
Dwels in all Heaven charitie ſo deare?
He ask’d, but all the Heav’nly Quire ſtood mute,
And ſilence was in Heav’n: on mas behalf
Patron or Interceſſor none appeerd,
220Much leſs that durſt upon his own head draw
The deadly forfeiture, and ranſom ſet.
And now without redemption all mankind
Muſt have bin loſt, adjudg’d to Death and Hell
By doom ſevere, had not the Son of God,
In whom the fulneſs dwels of love divine,
His deareſt mediation thus renewd.
Father, thy word is paſt, man ſhall find grace;
And ſhall grace not find means, that finds her way,
The ſpeedieſt of thy winged meſſengers,
230To viſit all thy creatures, and to all
Comes unprevented, unimplor’d, unsought,
Happie for man, ſo coming; he her aide
Can never ſeek, once dead in ſins and loſt;
Attonement for himſelf or offering meet,
Indebted and undon, hath none to bring:
Behold mee then, mee for him, life for life
I offer, on mee let thine anger fall;
Account mee Man; I for his sake will leave
Thy bosom, and this glorie next to thee
240Freely put off, and for him laſtly die