Paradise Regained

“What in me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support; That to the highth of this great Argument I may assert th’ Eternal Providence, And justifie the wayes of God to men.””

— John Milton

“Son of Heav'n and Earth,Attend: That thou art happy, owe to God,That thou continu'st such, owe to thyself,That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd.God made thee perfect, not immutable;And good he made thee, but to persevereHe left it in thy power, ordain'd thy willBy nature free, not overrul'd by FateInextricable, or strict necessity;Our voluntary service he requires,Not our necessitated, such with himFinds no acceptance, nor can find, for howCan hearts, not free, be tri'd whether they serveWilling or no, who will but what they mustBy Destiny, and can no other choose?Myself and all th'Angelic Host that standIn sight of God enthron'd, our happy stateHold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;On other surety none; freely we serve,Because wee freely love, as in our willTo love or not; in this we stand or fall:And some are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n,And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fallFrom what high state of bliss into what woe!--Archangel Raphael to Adam, Paradise Lost Book V””

— John Milton

“high words, that bore Semblance of worth not substance, gently””

— John Milton

“Rose out of Chaos:””

— John Milton

“who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe.””

— John Milton

“To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.””

— John Milton

“The first and wisest of them all professedTo know this only, that he nothing knew;””

— John Milton

“All things are best fulfilled in their due time;And time there is for all things,””

— John Milton

“HeavenIs as the book of God before thee set,Wherein to read his wondrous works, and learnHis seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years:””

— John Milton