O argument blasphemous, false and proud!
Words which no eare ever to hear in Heavn [ 810 ]
Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate
In place thy self so high above thy Peeres.
Canst thou with impious obloquie condemne
The just Decree of God, pronounct and sworn,
That to his only Son by right endud [ 815 ]
With Regal Scepter, every Soule in Heavn
Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due
Confess him rightful King? unjust thou saist
Flatly unjust, to binde with Laws the free,
And equal over equals to let Reigne, [ 820 ]
One over all with unsucceeded power.
Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute
With him the points of libertie, who made
Thee what thou art, and formd the Powrs of Heavn
Such as he pleasd, and circumscribd thir being? [ 825 ]
Yet by experience taught we know how good,
And of our good, and of our dignitie
How provident he is, how farr from thought
To make us less, bent rather to exalt
Our happie state under one Head more neer [ 830 ]
United. But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals Monarch Reigne:
Thy self though great and glorious dost thou count,
Or all Angelic Nature joind in one,
Equal to him begotten Son, by whom [ 835 ]
As by his Word the mighty Father made
All things, evn thee, and all the Spirits of Heavn
By him created in thir bright degrees,
Crownd them with Glory, and to thir Glory namd
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers, [ 840 ]
Essential Powers, nor by his Reign obscurd,
But more illustrious made, since he the Head
One of our number thus reduct becomes,
His Laws our Laws, all honour to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, [ 845 ]
And tempt not these; but hastn to appease
Th incensed Father, and th incensed Son,
While Pardon may be found in time besought.