Page:Poem on the creation of the world, or, A meditation on the wonderful operation of the divine hand.pdf/36

 On Man's Account the Lord is now no leſs

Than Debtor to his Truth and Faithfulneſs:

The Lord that made him did not need to ſtand

On Terms with Man, the Work of his own Hand:

Obedience was ſurely Adam's Due,

Tho' to his God he that ſhould never ſhew,

Yet to the ſame, God had ſo great Regard,

As to annex thereto a vaſt Reward;

Such was the Kindneſs of indulgent Heav'n,

As was to Man in the firſt Cov'nant giv'n.

Death which of eating was the Penalty,

Did, if he eat not, Life to him imply;

And had he in Obedience endur'd.

Eternal Life unto him was ſecur'd.

How happy had he and his Seed remain'd,

If he had this primeval State maintain'd:

But O! this State of Man, the firſt and beſt

That's here enjoy'd, did very ſhort while laſt;

Scarce taſting Joy, when taſting Fruit anon,

His happy State evaniſh'd is and gone!

Atan that fell from Happineſs of late,

Envied Adam of the happy State

He did in Eden at this Time poſſeſs,

As the Reſult of perfect Holineſs;

And knowing Adam's Happineſs did ſtand

In his obeying the divine Command,

He all his Art and Malice did employ,

That he might Adam's Happineſs deſtroy,