me All he could have; I made him just and right, Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. Such I created all the ethereal powers And Spirits, both them who stood and them who failed: Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. Not free, what proof could they have given sincere Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love, Where only what they needs must do appeared, Not what they would? what praise could they receive, What pleasure I, from such obedience paid, When will and reason—reason also is choice— Useless and vain, of freedom both despoiled, Made passive both, had served necessity, Not me? They therefore, as to right belonged, So were created, nor can justly accuse Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, As if predestination overruled Their will, disposed by absolute decree Or high foreknowledge. They themselves decreed Their own revolt, not I: if I foreknew, Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. So without least impulse or shadow of fate, Or aught by me immutably foreseen, They trespass, authors to themselves in all, Both what they judge and what they choose; for so I formed them free, and free they must remain Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change Their nature, and revoke the high decree Unchangeable, eternal, which ordained Their freedom; they themselves ordained their fall. The first sort by their own suggestion fell, Self-tempted, self-depraved; Man falls, deceived By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace; The other, none. In mercy and justice both, Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel; But mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine.”
Thus while God spake ambrosial fragrance filled All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect Sense of new joy ineffable diffused. Beyond compare the Son of God was seen Most glorious; in him all his Father shone Substantially expressed; and in his face Divine compassion visibly appeared, Love without end, and without measure grace; Which uttering, thus he to his Father spake: