But first it needs to say, that other style And other language than thy ear is wont, Thou must expect to hear—the dialect

Of man; for each in heaven a relish holds

Of former speech, that points to whence he came.
But whether I of person speak, or place,
Event or action, moral or divine;

Or things unknown compare to things unknown;
Allude, imply, suggest, apostrophise;

Or touch, when wandering through the past, on moods.

Of mind thou never felt'st; the meaning still,

With easy apprehension, thou shalt take.

So perfect here is knowledge, and the strings

Of sympathy so tuned, that every word

That each to other speaks, though never heard
Before, at once is fully understood,

And every feeling utter'd fully felt.

So shalt thou find, as from my various song,
That backward rolls o'er many a tide of years,
Directly or inferred, thy asking, thou,

And wondering doubt, shalt learn to answer, while
I sketch in brief the history of Man.

BOOK II.

ARGUMENT.

The inspired Bard commences the history of Man.-Description of Earth in her primeval state. Powers and faculties of man at his creation.-The conditions on which he enjoyed the Divine favour.-His disobedience and fall.-Indignant astonishment of the New-arrived at man's ingratitude. The Bard unfolds the scheme of Redemption.-Rapturous wonder of the Sons of Heaven.They learn that all men are not saved.-Man's perversity. The offer of free grace rejected by many.-Astonishment of the New-arrived at man ever claiming to merit aught of his Maker.The Bible given for a guide to man.--Its spirit and contents.-Warped by men to favour unbelief, and their various creeds and interests.-Superstitious rites.-Idolatrous worship.--Nature of Sin. Why enlightened, reasonable beings, deserting truth, were lost, in part explained.-Exemplified in kings and men in power.-Their love of spiritual domination.-Picture of a corrupt, ambitious priest.--Free-will and moral responsibility of all mankind. Their self-delusion.-All absorbed in Time's pursuits.-Presumption of mankind respecting the mysteries of religion.--Pride of the human heart.-Pride the first cause of man's perdition.-The workings of this passion described. Its consequences.-The infatuation of its delusions.-Their ultimate tendency.-Pride the cause of rebellion against God.

As from yon everlasting hills that gird Heaven northward, I thy course espied, I judge Thou from the Arctic regions came? Perhaps

F