Side 143 af 239

One kingdom, joy and union without end.

Meanwhile, inhabit lax,¹ ye Powers of Heaven;

And thou, my Word, begotten Son, by thee

This I perform; speak Thou, and be it done!

My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee

I send along; ride forth, and bid the deep

Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth;

Boundless the Deep, because I Am, who fill

Infinitude; nor vacuous the space,

Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire,

And put not forth my goodness, which is free

To act or not; necessity and chance

Approach not me, and what I will is fate.

So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake, His Word, the filial Godhead, gave effect. Immediate are the acts of God, more swift Than time or motion; but to human ears Cannot without process of speech be told. So told as earthly notion can receive. Great triumph and rejoicing were in Heaven, When such was heard declared the Almighty's will; Glory they sung to the Most High, good-will To future men, and in their dwellings peace: Glory to Him, whose just avenging ire Had driven out the ungodly from his sight And the habitations of the just; to Him Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained Good out of evil to create; instead Of spirits malign, a better race to bring Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse His good to worlds and ages infinite.

So sang the Hierarchies. Meanwhile the Son On his great expedition now appeared, Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crowned Of majesty divine, sapience and love

' Inhabit lax. -With ample space.