Catalogue Entry: THEM00309

Book I: Chapter 9

Author: John Milton

Source: A Treatise on Christian Doctrine, Compiled from the Holy Scriptures Alone, vol. 1 (Boston: 1825).

[Normalized Text] [Diplomatic Text]

[1]

Milton employs the word elect in opposition to the apostate angels, in the description of the first battle in heaven:

..... but those elect

Angels, contented with their fame in Heav'n,

Seek not the praise of men: the other sort,

In might though wond'rous, —&c. Paradise Lost, VI. 374.

[2]

Nor less think we in heav'n of thee on earth

Than of our fellow servant, and enquire

Gladly into the ways of God with man.

Paradise Lost, VIII. 224.

[3]

When the great ensign of Messiah blaz'd,

..... Michael soon reduc'd

His army, circumfus'd on either wing,

Under their head embodied all in one. VI. 775.

[4]

Ye behold him, and with songs

And choral symphonies, day without night,

Circle his throne rejoicing. V. 161.

[5]

The tutelary care of angels is incidentally alluded to in Paradise Lost:

..... except whom

God and good angels guard by special grace. II. 1032.

Subjected to his service angel wings

And flaming ministers, to watch and tend

Their earthly charge. IX. 155.

Send me the angel of thy birth, to stand

Fast by thy side. Samson Agonistes, 1431.

..... some good angel bear

A shield before us. Comus, 658.

[6]

This is the interpretation of Grotius, Hammond, (who quotes from the Fathers in support of his opinion) Wolf, Doddridge, Pearce, &c. But Milton probably alluded to Tremellius, whose version he principally used, and whose note is as follows: 'Hujus autem rei testes sunt et observatores angeli in ecclesia Dei, ab externo ordine internam Dei gratiam et pictatum membrorum optime recognoscentes. Psal. xxxiv. 8. et xci. 11. Matt, xviii. 10. John i. 52. Eph. iii. 10. 1 Tim. v. 21. Heb. i. 14. 1 Pet. i. 12.' These seem to have been the 'numerous examples' referred to above.

[7]

Th' Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the sev'n

Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne,

Stand ready at command, and are his eyes

That run through all the heav'ns, or down to th' earth

Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,

O'er sea and land. Paradise Lost, III. 648.

[8]

Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince.

Paradise Lost, VI. 44.

[9]

So in the description of the first fight in Paradise Lost, which is borrowed from the prophecy in the Apocalypse quoted above, 'long time in even scale the battle hung,' till at last Michael, 'the prince of angels,' engages in single combat with the Adversary:

.... from each hand with speed retir'd,

Where erst was thickest fight, th'angelic throng,

And left large field. VI. 307.

[10]

..... do him mightier service as his thralls

By right of war, whate'er his business be,

Here in the heart of hell to work in fire,

Or do his errands in the gloomy deep.

Paradise Lost, I. 148.

..... the spirits perverse

With easy intercourse pass to and fro

To tempt or punish mortals. II. 1031.

[11]

So stretch'd out huge in length the Arch-Fiend lay,

Chain'd on the burning —lake, nor ever thence

Had ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the will

And high permission of all-ruling heav'n

Left him at large to his own dark designs.

Paradise Lost. I. 209.

[12]

..... his doom

Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought

Both of lost happiness and lasting pain

Torments him-. I. 52.

..... hope never comes

That comes to all. I. 66.

..... We are decreed,

Reserv'd, and destin'd to eternal woe;

Whatever doing, what can we suffer more,

What can we suffer worse ? II. 159.

Me miserable! which way shall I fly

Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? IV. 73.

[13]

The Stygian council thus dissolv'd, and forth

In order came the grand infernal peers:

Midst came their mighty Paramount-.

Paradise Lost, II. 506.

[14]

..... To whom th' Arch-Enemy,

And thence in heav'n call'd Satan. —I. 81.

..... the Adversary of God and man,

Satan-. II. 629.

High proof ye now have giv'n to be the race

Of Satan (for I glory in the name Antagonist of heav'n's Almighty King.)

X. 385. See also VI. 281,

[15]

The tempter ere th'accuser of mankind.

Paradise Lost, IV. 10.

[16]

..... who bids abstain

But our Destroyer, foe to God and man? IV. 749.

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