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Illustrious farr and wide, but by his own

First seen, them unexpected joy surprizd,

When the great Ensign of Messiah blazd [ 775 ]

Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heavn:

Under whose Conduct Michael soon reducd

His Armie, circumfusd on either Wing,

Under thir Head imbodied all in one.

Before him Power Divine his way prepard; [ 780 ]

At his command the uprooted Hills retird

Each to his place, they heard his voice and went

Obsequious, Heavn his wonted face renewd,

And with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smild.

This saw his hapless Foes but stood obdurd, [ 785 ]

And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers

Insensate, hope conceiving from despair.

In heavnly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?

But to convince the proud what Signs availe,

Or Wonders move th obdurate to relent? [ 790 ]

They hardnd more by what might most reclame,

Grieving to see his Glorie, at the sight

Took envie, and aspiring to his highth,

Stood reimbattelld fierce, by force or fraud

Weening to prosper, and at length prevaile [ 795 ]

Against God and Messiah, or to fall

In universal ruin last, and now

To final Battel drew, disdaining flight,

Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God

To all his Host on either hand thus spake. [ 800 ]

Stand still in bright array ye Saints, here stand

Ye Angels armd, this day from Battel rest;

Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God

Accepted, fearless in his righteous Cause,

And as ye have receivd, so have ye don [ 805 ]

Invincibly; but of this cursed crew

The punishment to other hand belongs,

Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints;

Number to this dayes work is not ordaind

Nor multitude, stand onely and behold [ 810 ]

Gods indignation on these Godless pourd

By mee, not you but mee they have despisd,

Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage,

Because the Father, t whom in Heavn supream

Kingdom and Power and Glorie appertains, [ 815 ]

Hath honourd me according to his will.