Of humility and repentance, our first parents are viewed compassionately
by the Redeemer, who, gathering up their prayers, presents them to the
Father as the first-fruits which have sprung from his mercy. "See,
Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung From thy implanted grace
in man; these sighs And prayers, which in this golden censer, mixed With
incense, I thy priest before thee bring, Fruits of more pleasing savor,
from thy seed Sown with contrition in his heart, than those Which his
own hand, manuring all the trees Of Paradise, could have produced, ere
fallen From innocence." In reply to the touching pleas of this advocate,
the heavenly Father promises the culprits shall be forgiven, provided
their repentance is sincere, but insists that meantime they be ejected
from Paradise. Michael and the cherubs chosen for this office are
instructed to mount guard day and night, lest the fiend return to
Paradise, or the human pair re-enter and partake of the tree of life and
thus escape the penalty of death. But, before driving out our first
parents, Michael is to reveal to A
|
