Drew many, whom their place knows here no more Yet far the greater part have kept, I see Their station, heaven, yet populous, retains Number sufficient to possess her realms Though wide, and this high temple to frequent With ministries due, and solemn rites
But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm Already done, to have dis-peopled heaven My damage fondly deemed, I can repair That detriment, if such it be to lose Self-lost, and in a moment will create Another world, out of one man a race Of men innumerable, there to dwell
Not here, till, by degrees of merit raised They open to themselves at length the way Up hither, under long obedience tried And earth be changed to heaven, and heaven to Earth
One kingdom, joy and union without end Meanwhile, inhabit lax, ye powers of heaven And thou my word, begotten son, by thee This I perform, speak thou, and be it done
My overshadowing spirit and might with thee I send along, ride forth, and bid the deep Within appointed bounds be heaven and earth Boundless the deep, because I am who fill
Infinitude, nor vacuous the space Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire And put not forth my goodness, which is free To act or not, necessity and chance Approach not me, and what I will is fate
So spake the almighty, and to what he spake His word, the filial godhead, gave effect Immediate are the acts of God, more swift Than time or motion, but to human ears Cannot without process of speech be told So told as earthly notion can receive