This central Thought, radiating in every direction to the circumference, cannot be regarded as a theological notion, coldly selected for learned poetical treatment. The various and wonderful shaping-out, the pervading, animating, actuating, soul-like influence and operation;—direct us to understand that in the Mind of Milton, through his day of life, a vital self-consciousness bound this Truth to his innermost being:—that he loved this Truth;—lived in and by this Truth. Wherefore the Poem springs from his Mind, by a moral necessity. TALBOYS. Four great aspects of Composition, or Four chief moods of Poetry appear in the _Paradise Lost_. 1. The Sublime of disturbed Powers in the _infernal Agents_:—fallen and, ere they fall, warring. 2. _Heaven in humanity_: while Adam and Eve are “yet sinless.”—A celestial Arcadia.—The purer Golden Age. 3. _Man, Earthly_: when they have eaten. “_I_ now must _change Those_ notes to TRAGIC.” 4. _Heaven_;—extended, wheresoever the good Angels go. These Four greatly dissimilar aspects are each amply displayed:—and much as they differ, are wonderfully reconciled. SEWARD. Milton sets before our eyes in utmost opposition, God and Satan—_i. e._ Good and Evil, namely—_Good_, as Holiness and Bliss inseparably united in God—_Evil_, as Wickedness and Misery united inseparably in Satan. NORTH. The Poem represents the necessary eternal War irreconcilable of the Two—throughout the Creation of God—namely, first in Heaven the abode of Angels—next upon Earth the abode of Men. SEWARD. The Poem represents in Heaven and upon Earth, God as the willing infinite Communicator of Good:—as, in Heaven and upon Earth the perpetual Victor over Evil. TALBOYS. And Evil—in Heaven and upon Earth as necessarily _Self_-Destructive: _videlicet_, in this visible shape: that from God’s Heaven and from God’s Earth all reason-gifted Doers of Evil—that is, all doers of moral Evil—are cast out into perdition. NORTH. The Poet himself has declared in the outset the purpose of his Poem. It is to establish in the mind of his readers the belief in the Two great Truths:—That the Universe is under the government of Eternal and Omnipotent Wisdom:—and that this Government, as far as it regards Mankind, is holy, just, and merciful. This essential truth, infinitely the most important that can be entertained, since it comprehends all our good, all our evil—all happiness, all misery—temporal—eternal;—all the destinies and conditions of the human race;—was worthy the taking-in-hand of such a Teacher. This truth He _might have_ illustrated, from _any_ part of human history;—and with great power and evidence from a great many parts—both for obedience and for disobedience—in the case of individuals _and of_ communities.