is honourd and applauded. The Council thus ended, the reſt betake them ſeveral wayes & to ſeveral imployments, as thir inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He paſſes on his Journey to Hell Gates, finds them ſhut; and who ſat there to guard them, by whom at length they are op'nd, and diſcover to him the great Gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he paſſes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new World which he ſought.
Of the
THIRD BOOK
GOd ſitting on his Throne ſees Satan flying towards this world, then newly created 3 ft jews him to the Son who ſat at his right hand; foretells the ſucceſs of Satan in perverting mankind; clears his own Juſtice and Wiſdom from all imputation, having created Man free and able enough to have withſtood his Tempter; yet declares his purpoſe of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him ſeduc't, The Son of God renders praiſes to his Father for the manifeſtation of his gracious purpoſe towards Man; but God again declares, that Grace cannot be extended towards Man without the ſatisfaction of divine Juſtice; Man hath offended the majeſty of God by aſpiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his Progeny devoted to death muſt dye, unleſs ſome one can be found ſufficient to anſwer for his offence, and undergoe his Puniſhment. The Son of God freely offers himſelf a Ranſome for Man: the Fa-
