10

Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise

Expect with mortal paine: say where and when

Thir fight, what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel [ 385 ].

To whom thus Michael. Dream not of thir fight,

As of a Duel, or the local wounds

Of head or heel: not therefore joynes the Son

Manhood to God-head, with more strength to foil

Thy enemie; nor so is overcome [ 390 ]

Satan, whose fall from Heavn, a deadlier bruise,

Disabld not to give thee thy deaths wound:

Which hee, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure,

Not by destroying Satan, but his works

In thee and in thy Seed: nor can this be, [ 395 ]

But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,

Obedience to the Law of God, imposd

On penaltie of death, and suffering death,

The penaltie to thy transgression due,

And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: [ 400 ]

So onely can high Justice rest appaid.

The Law of God exact he shall fulfill

Both by obedience and by love, though love

Alone fulfill the Law; thy punishment

He shall endure by coming in the Flesh [ 405 ]

To a reproachful life and cursed death,

Proclaiming Life to all who shall believe

In his redemption, and that his obedience

Imputed becomes theirs by Faith, his merits

To save them, not thir own, though legal works. [ 410 ]

For this he shall live hated, be blasphemd,

Seisd on by force, judgd, and to death condemnd

A shameful and accurst, naild to the Cross

By his own Nation, slaine for bringing Life;

But to the Cross he nailes thy Enemies, [ 415 ]

The Law that is against thee, and the sins

Of all mankinde, with him there crucifid,

Never to hurt them more who rightly trust

In this his satisfaction; so he dies,

But soon revives, Death over him no power [ 420 ]

Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light

Returne, the Starres of Morn shall see him rise

Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light,

Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems,

His death for Man, as many as offerd Life [ 425 ]

Neglect not, and the benefit imbrace

By Faith not void of workes: this God-like act

Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have dyd,

In sin for ever lost from life; this act

Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength [ 430 ]

Defeating Sin and Death, his two maine armes,

And fix farr deeper in his head thir stings

Then temporal death shall bruise the Victors heel,

Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like sleep,

A gentle wafting to immortal Life. [ 435 ]

Nor after resurrection shall he stay

Longer on Earth then certaine times to appeer

To his Disciples, Men who in his Life

Still followd him; to them shall leave in charge

To teach all nations what of him they learnd [ 440 ]

And his Salvation, them who shall beleeve

Baptizing in the profluent streame, the signe

Of washing them from guilt of sin to Life

Pure, and in mind prepard, if so befall,

For death, like that which the redeemer dyd. [ 445 ]

All Nations they shall teach; for from that day

Not onely to the Sons of Abrahams Loines

Salvation shall be Preacht, but to the Sons

Of Abrahams Faith wherever through the world;

So in his seed all Nations shall be blest. [ 450 ]