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And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. This said, He form'd thee, Adam, thee, O man! Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'd The breath of life: in His own image He Created thee, in the image of God Express, and thou becam’st a living soul. Male He created thee, but thy consort Female for race; then bless'd mankind, and said, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold Over the fish of sea, and fowl of th' air, And every living thing that moves on th' earth, Wherever thus created; for no place Is yet distinct by name: thence, as thou know'st, He brought thee into this delicious grove, This garden, planted with the trees of God, Delectable both to behold and taste; And freely all their pleasant fruits for food Gave thee; all sorts are here that all th'earth yields, Variety without end; but of the tree, Which tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, Thou may'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou dy'st; Death is the penalty impos'd, beware, And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.
Here finish'd He, and all that He had made View'd, and behold all was entirely good; So ev'n and morn accomplish'd the sixth day:
Yet not till the Creator, from His work Desisting though unwearied, up return'd, Up to the heaven of heavens, His high abode; Thence to behold this new-created world, Th’addition of His empire, how it show'd In prospect from His throne, how good, how fair, Answ'ring His great idea. Up He rode, Follow'd with acclamation and the sound Symphonious of ten thousand harps that tun'd Angelic harmonies: the carth, the air Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st) The heavens and all the constellations rung, The planets in their stations list'ning stood, While the bright pomp ascended jubilant. Open, ye everlasting gates, they sung, Open, ye heavens, your living doors; let in The Great Creator, from His work return'd Magnificent, His six days work, a World! Open, and henceforth oft, for God will deign To visit oft the dwellings of just men, Delighted, and with frequent intercourse Thither will send his winged messengers On errands of supernal grace. So sung Theglorious train ascending: He through heaven, That open'd wide her blazing portals, led To God's eternal house direct the
way, A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold
And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, Seen in the galaxy, that milky way, Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest Powder'd with stars. And now on earth the seventh Evening arose in Eden, for the sun Was set, and twilight from the east came on, Forerunning night; when at the holy mount Of heaven's high-seated top, th' imperial throne Of Godhead, fix'd for ever firm and sure, The Filial Power arriv'd, and sat him down With his Great Father, for He also went Invisible, yet stay'd, (such privilege Hath Omnipresence,) and the work ordain'd, Author and end of all things, and from work Now resting, bless’dand hallow'd the seventh day, As resting on that day from all His work; But not in silence holy kept; the harp Had work and rested not, the solemn pipe, And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, All sounds on fret by string or golden wire Temper'd soft tunings, intermix'd with voice Choral or unison: of incense clouds Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. Creation and the six days acts they sung: Great are Thy works, JEHOVAH, infinite Thy power! what thought can measure Thee, or
tongue
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Relate Thee? greater now in Thy return Than from the giant angels; Thee that day Thy thunders magnify'd; but to create Is greater than created to destroy. Who can impair Thee, Mighty King, or bound Thy empire? easily the proud attempts Of spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, Thou hast repell’d, while impiously they thought Thee to diminish, and from Thee withdraw The number of Thy worshippers. Who seeks To lessen Thee, against his purpose serves To manifest the more Thy might: his evil Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good. Witness this new-made world, another heaven From heaven-gate not far, founded in view On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea, Of amplitude almost immense, with stars Num'rous, and every star perhaps a world Of destin'd habitation; but Thou know'st Their seasons: , among these the seat of men, Earth with her nether ocean circumfus’d, Their pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happy men, And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc'd, Created in His image, there to dwell And worship Him, and in reward to rule Over His works, on earth, in sea, or air, And multiply a race of worshippers
Holy and just: thrice happy if they know Their happiness, and persevere upright.
So sung they, and the empyréan rung With hallelujahs: thus was sabbath kept.
THESE are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Al; ighty! Thine this universal frame, Thus wondrous fair; Thyself how wondrous then! Unspeakable, who sit'st above these heavens To us invisible, or dimly seen In these Thy lowest works; yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. Speak ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, Angels; for ye behold Him, and with songs And choral symphonies, day without night Circle His throne rejoicing; ye in heaven, On earth join all ye creatures to extol Him first, Him last, Hiin midst, and without end. Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, If better thou belong not to the dawn, Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn
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