_The Cloud descends with six Angels in it, and when it is near the ground, breaks, and on each side discovers six more: They descend out of the Cloud._ RAPHAEL _and_ GABRIEL _discourse with_ ADAM, _the rest stand at a distance._ _Raph._ First of mankind, that we from heaven are sent, Is from heaven's care thy ruin to prevent. The Apostate Angel has by night been here, And whispered through thy sleeping consort's ear Delusive dreams. Thus warned by us, beware, And guide her frailty by thy timely care. _Gab._ These, as thy guards from outward harms, are sent; Ills from within thy reason must prevent. _Adam._ Natives of heaven, who in compassion deign To want that place where joys immortal reign, In care of me; what praises can I pay, Descended in obedience; taught to obey? _Raph._ Praise Him alone, who god-like formed thee free, With will unbounded as a deity; Who gave thee reason, as thy aid, to chuse Apparent good, and evil to refuse. Obedience is that good; this heaven exacts, And heaven, all-just, from man requires not acts, Which man wants power to do: Power then is given Of doing good, but not compelled by heaven. _Gab._ Made good, that thou dost to thy Maker owe; But to thyself, if thou continuest so. _Adam._ Freedom of will of all good things is best; But can it be by finite man possest? I know not how heaven can communicate What equals man to his Creator's state. _Raph._ Heaven cannot give his boundless power away, But boundless liberty of choice he may; So orbs from the first Mover motion take, Yet each their proper revolutions make. _Adam._ Grant heaven could once have given us liberty; Are we not bounded now, by firm decree, Since whatsoe'er is pre-ordained must be? Else heaven for man events might pre-ordain, And man's free will might make those orders vain. _Gab._ The Eternal, when he did the world create, All other agents did necessitate: So what he ordered, they by nature do; Thus light things mount, and heavy downward go. Man only boasts an arbitrary state. _Adam._ Yet causes their effects necessitate In willing agents: Where is freedom then? Or who can break the chain which limits men To act what is unchangeably forecast, Since the first cause gives motion to the last? _Raph._ Heaven, by fore-knowing what will surely be, Does only, first, effects in causes see, And finds, but does not make, necessity. Creation is of power and will the effect, Foreknowledge only of his intellect. His prescience makes not, but supposes things; Infers necessity to be, not brings. Thus thou art not constrained to good or ill; Causes, which work the effect, force not the will. _Adam._ The force unseen, and distant, I confess; But the long chain makes not the bondage less. Even man himself may to himself seem free; And think that choice, which is necessity. _Gab._ And who but man should judge of man's free state?