Given him by this great Conference to know

More aerie, last the bright consummate floure

Differing but in degree, of kind the same. [ 490 ]

Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice

Exceeded human, and his wary speech

No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare: [ 495 ]

Obedient? can we want obedience then

And from these corporal nutriments perhaps

Who dwell in Heavn, whose excellence he saw

As that more willingly thou couldst not seem

At Heavns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?

Whosread.99csw.come progenie you are. Mean while enjoy

Each in thir several active Sphears assignd,

Unalterably firm his love entire

O Adam, one Almightie is, from whom

Well hast thou taught the way that might direct

Full to the utmost measure of what bliss

To whom the Patriarch of mankind replid,

If not depravd from good, created all

To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,

Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, [ 465 ]

In Adam, not to let th occasion pass

Is oftest yours, the latt九_九_藏_書er most is ours,

Such to perfection, one first matter all,

By steps we may ascend to God. But say,

O favourable spirit, propitious guest,

Human desires can seek or apprehend?

Not burdnd Nature, sudden mind arose

Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far

To him, or possibly his love desert [ 515 ]

Till body up to spirit work, in bounds

But more refind, more spiritous, and pure, [ 475 ]

To proper substance; time may come when men

Here or in Heavnly Paradises dwell; [ 500 ]

Fansieｒｅaｄ•９9cｓw.coｍ and understanding, whence the Soule

Of things above his World, and of thir being [ 455 ]

To whom the winged Hierarch replid.

Reason receives, and reason is her being,

To vital Spirits aspire, to animal,

Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves [ 480 ]

Thus to th Empyreal Minister he framd. [ 460 ]

Can comprehend, incapable of more. [ 505 ]

Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse

Your fill what happiness this happie state

Thy favour, in this honour done to man,

From cenｒeａd.9９ｃsw.ｃｏｍter to circumference, whereon [ 510 ]

Indud with various forms, various degrees

Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant forms

Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublimd

To intellectual, give both life and sense, [ 485 ]

Of substance, and in things that live, of life;

If I refuse not, but convert, as you,

Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set

What meant that caution joind, if ye be found

Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficd [ 450 ]

In contemplation of created things

Under w九九藏書hose lowly roof thou hast voutsaft

Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit

Who formd us from the dust, and placd us here

Proportiond to each kind. So from the root

Improvd by tract of time, and wingd ascend

Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit,

Wonder not then, what God for you saw good

As neerer to him plact or neerer tending

With Angels may participate, and find

Inhabitant with God, now know I well

All things proceed, and up to him return, [ 470 ]

If ye be found obedient, and retain