Season 4 Podcast 36 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XXXVI, “The Intercession, Pt I”

Season 4 Podcast 36 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XXXVI, “The Intercession, Pt I”  In the prologue to Book XI, Milton writes.The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise; sends Michael with a band of Cherubim to dispossess them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns Michael's approach; goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces their departure. Eve's Lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits: the Angel leads him up to a high hill; sets before him a vision what shall happen till the Flood.Because of the fall, the physical bodies of Adam and Eve change; however, their hearts are softened, and both feel repentant. Their prayers are heard in heaven. Milton apparently draws inspiration from John The Revelator who wrote “and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”Thus they in lowliest plight repentant stoodPraying, for from the Mercy-seat abovePrevenient Grace descending had remov’dThe stonie from their hearts, and made new fleshRegenerat grow instead, that sighs now breath’dUnutterable, which the Spirit of prayerInspir’d, and wing’d for Heav’n with speedier flightThen loudest Oratorie: yet their portNot of mean suiters, nor important lessSeem’d their Petition, then when th’ ancient PairIn Fables old, less ancient yet then these,Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha to restoreThe Race of Mankind drownd, before the ShrineOf Themis stood devout. To Heav’n their prayersFlew up, nor missed the way, by envious windsBlow’n vagabond or frustrate: in they passedDimentionless through Heav’nly dores; then cladWith incense, where the Golden Altar fum’d,By their great Intercessor, came in sightBefore the Fathers Throne: Christ intercedes to the Father for Adam and Eve symbolizing Christ’s intercession for all of us who also became subject to the fall.  Christ becomes our advocate. Christ redeems us from the fall and makes us one with him as he is one with the Father.Them the glad SonPresenting, thus to intercede began.See Father, what first fruits on Earth are sprungFrom thy implanted Grace in Man, these SighsAnd Prayers, which in this Golden Censer, mixtWith Incense, I thy Priest before thee bring,Fruits of more pleasing savour from thy seedSow’n with contrition in his heart, then thoseWhich his own hand manuring all the TreesOf Paradise could have produc’t, ere fall’nFrom innocence. Now therefore bend thine eareTo supplication, heare his sighs though mute;Unskilful with what words to pray, let meeInterpret for him, mee his AdvocateAnd propitiation, all his works on meeGood or not good ingraft, my Merit thoseShall perfect, and for these my Death shall pay.Accept me, and in me from these receiveThe smell of peace toward Mankinde, let him liveBefore thee reconcil’d, at least his daysNumbered, though sad, till Death, his doom (which ITo mitigate thus plead, not to reverse)To better life shall yield him, where with meAll my redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss,Made one with me as I with thee am one.The Father accepts his Son’s request, but Adam and Eve must leave Paradise and become subject to the laws of nature. He tells his Son that death must be man’s final remedy, meaning that without death we could not be redeemed. Without death mankind would live in eternal misery. Earth becomes a probationary state refined by sharp tribulation and refined by faith and judged by works. Only through faith and obedience can we have a second life with God.