Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn 255 Save when they journey, and at length they come, Conducted by his Angel to the land Promis'd to Abraham and his feed: the rest 260 Were long to tell, how many battels fought, From filled the tabernacle. And Mofes was fays in fhort, the cloud was over not able to enter into the tent of the the tent by day, and the fire (call'd congregation because the cloud abode here a fiery gleam) by night, when thereon, and the glory of the Lord they journey'd not. He takes no filled the tabernacle. And when the notice how it was when they did, cloud was taken up from over the which this text (for the infinite beauty tabernacle, the children of Ifrael went of it we have given it at length) onward in all their journeys. But if explains: The cloud was then taken the cloud were not taken up, then they up; How then? the Lord went bejourneyed not, till the day that it was fore them by day in a pillar of a cloud taken up. For the cloud of the Lord to lead them the way, and by night was upon the tabernacle by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light, fire was on it by night, in the fight to go by day and night, chap. XIII. of all the house of Ifrael, throughout 21. Other armies pitch their enall their journeys, Exod. XL. 34 &c. figns when they incamp, and lift Thus it was in all places wherever them up when they march. So does they came: and this is what Milton the Lord of hofts leading forth his people. From Abraham, fon of Ifaac, and from him 270. Here Adam interpos'd.] Thefe interpofitions of Adam have a very good effect, for otherwife the continued narration of the Angel would appear too long and tedious. 274. Mine eyes true opening,] For that was a falfe promife which the Serpent had made, Gen. III. 5. Your eyes fhall be open'd &c. 277. His day,] An allufion to that of our Saviour, John VIII. 56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad. 283. So many laws argue fo many fins] This fcruple of our first father, and the reply of the Angel are grounded upon St. Paul's Epistles, and particularly thofe to the Romans, Galatians and Hebrews, 276 Favor as the reader, who is at all converfant with these facred writings, will eafily perceive. It would be too minute and tedious to quote chapter and verfe for every expreffion: but the reader may peruse the following texts, and compare them with our author. Wherefore then ferveth the law? it was added because of tranfgreffions. Gal. III. 19. I had not known fin but by the law: But fin taking occafion by the commandment wrought in me all manner of concudeeds of the law there shall no flest pifcence. Rom. VII. 7, 8. By the be justified in his fight, for by the law is the knowledge of fin. Rom. III. 20. If the blood of bulls and of goats fanctifieth to the purifying of the fish, how much more shall the blood of Chrift, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spor to God, purge your confcience from dead works? Heb. IX. 13, 14. It is not possible that the blood of bulls and Favor unmerited by me, who fought 280 So Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth many and fo various laws are given; So many laws argue fo many fins Among them; how can God with such refide? To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that fin Will reign among them, as of thee begot ; And therefore was law giv'n them to evince and of goats fhould take away fins; Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he faith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldeft not, but a body haft thou prepared me. Heb. X. 4, 5. It was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his fake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us alfo to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raifed up Jefus our Lord from the dead. Rom. IV. 22, 23, 24. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jefus Chrift, Rom. V. 1. For there is verily a difannulling of the commandment going before, for the weaknefs and unprofitableness thereof; For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did. Heb. VII. 18, 19. For the law having a fhadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with thofe facrifices make the comers thereunto perVOL. II, 286 Their fect. Heb. X. 1, That no man is juftified by the law in the fight of God it is evident; for the just fhall live by faith: And the law is not of faith; but the man that doeth them shall live in them-But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith, which should afterwards be revealed. Gal. III. 11, 12, 23. Wherefore thou art no more a fervant, but a fon. Gal. IV. 7. For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. Rom. VIII. 15. How admirably hath our author here in a few verses fumm'd up the fenfe and argument of these and more texts of fcripture? It is really wonderful, how he could comprife fo much divinity in fo féw words, and at the fame time exprefs it with fuch strength and per fpicuity. Their natural pravity, by ftirring up Sin against law to fight: that when they fee 290 295 The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude Some blood more precious must be paid for man, Juft for unjust, that in such righteousness To them by faith imputed, they may find Juftification towards God, and peace Of confcience, which the law by ceremonies Cannot appeafe, nor man the moral part Perform, and not performing cannot live. So law appears imperfect, and but given With purpose to refign them in full time Up to a better covenant, difciplin'd 300 From shadowy types to truth, from flesh to spirit, Acceptance of large grace, 307. And therefore shall not Mofes, &c.] Mofes died in mount Nebo, in the land of Moab, from whence he had the profpect of the promis'd land, but not the honor of leading the Ifraelites in to poffefs it, which was referved for Jothua. Deut. XXXIV. Joh. I. Commentators on the death of Aaron in mount Hor, Numb. XX. 28, remark that from fervile fear 305 To filial, works of law to works of faith. And therefore shall not Mofes, though of God Of law, his people into Canaan lead; 310 Through the world's wilderness long wander'd man Safe to eternal Paradife of rest. Mean while they in their earthly Canaan plac'd 315 Long time shall dwell and profper, but when fins National interrupt their public peace, Provoking God to raise them enemies; From whom as oft he faves them penitent By judges first, then under kings; of whom of Jefus; and the names are the fame, Joshua according to the Hebrew, and Jefus in Greek. The Seventy always render Joshua by Jefus, and there are two paffages in the New Testament where Jefus is ufed for Joshua, once by St. Stephen, Acts VII.45. The tabernacle which our fathers brought in with Jefus, that is with Joshua, into the poffeffion 320 For |