Season 4 Podcast 56 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XLI, “The Intercession, Pt V”

Season 4 Podcast 56 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XLI, “The Intercession, Pt V” 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.Michael is showing Adam the future up until the flood of Noah.  We are told by Peter that only eight souls were saved on the Ark.1 Peter 3:19 – 20By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.Being the father and mother of the human race, through Milton’s eyes, the teachings of Christ and his atonement were taught by Adam and Eve to their posterity and handed down from generation to generation. From Milton’s point of view Adam and Eve were Christians and Christianity was first taught to the human race by our first parents.  It goes along with Milton’s theme to justify the ways of God to man. Mankind did not sin in ignorance. They willfully violated the laws. Michael teaches Adam.These are the productOf those ill-mated Marriages thou saw’st;Where good with bad were matcht, who of themselvesAbhor to join; and by imprudence mixt,Produce prodigious Births of body or mind.Such were these Giants, men of high renown;For in those days Might only shall be admir’d,And Valor and Heroic Vertu called;To overcome in Battel, and subdueNations, and bring home spoils with infiniteMan-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitchOf human Glorie, and for Glorie doneOf triumph, to be styl’d great Conquerors,Patrons of Mankind, Gods, and Sons of Gods,Destroyers rightlier call’d and Plagues of men.Thus Fame shall be achieved, renown on Earth,And what most merits fame in silence hid.Michael tells Adam of Noah, the only righteous man in an evil world. Michael points out that God rewards the good and punishes the evil.But he the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldstThe only righteous in a World perverse,And therefore hated, therefore so besetWith Foes for daring single to be just,And utter odious Truth, that God would comeTo judge them with his Saints: Him the most HighRapt in a balmie Cloud with winged SteedsDid, as thou sawst, receive, to walk with GodHigh in Salvation and the Climes of bliss,Exempt from Death; to shew thee what rewardAwaits the good, the rest what punishment;Michael directed Adam’s eyes as he looked into the future. Everything changed. The wars ceased but Adam’s posterity followed the natural man and began to indulge in adultery, fornication, rape, licentiousness, libertinism, debauchery, wantonness, and abandonment. He looked, & saw the face of things quite changed;The brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar,All now was turned to jollity and game,To luxury and riot, feast and dance,Marrying or prostituting, as befell,Rape or Adultery, where passing faireAllured them; thence from Cups to civil Broiles.