Thy stern rebuke, Ambrose !-And truth's free voice unaw'd by man, Roll'd through the domes of old Milan! In the long line of saints we see, MICHAEL AGONISTES. THE SECOND PART. ARGUMENT. PRELUDE. The rise of superstition. Corruptions of the Papacy. The Scourge of Mohammedanism. The Church in the Wilderness. The three angels flying in the midst of heaven. The conflict at the Reformation. The scourge of misrule. The Church of England, her confessors and martyrs. The French Revolution and dawn of the Anti-Christian age. The three foul spirits of Anarchy, Atheism and Superstition. Aspects of the present age. Position and duty of the Church. The Angels ministers to the Church in her conflicts with the power of the Dragon. Motives to energy, faithfulness, and zeal. The promises to the Church. Conclusion. O! th' exceeding grace Of Highest God that loves his creatures so, To serve to wicked man against his greatest foe :- They for us fight, they watch and duly ward, O why should heavenly God to men have such regard. FAIRY QUEEN MICHAEL AGONISTES. I. When dawn'd the summer morn, On Dothan's gates, of old, And round her walls, in flaunting scorn, The Syrian foe his haughty strength displayed, With tow'ring helm and burnish'd blade The fair, celestial legions shone, And fiery coursers, strong and bright, O'er hill and mead came rolling on, Far-gleaming on the plain and crowning ev'ry height, 5* |