1. Adam's criticism of Nimrod's "Hubris" in the Tower of Babel
Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeased.
O execrable son so to aspire
Above his brethren, to himself assuming
Authority usurped, from God not given:
He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl
Dominion absolute; that right we hold
By his donation; but man over men
He made not lord; such title to himself
Reserving, human left from human free.
But this usurper his encroachment proud
Stays not on man; to God his tower intends
Siege and defiance: wretched man! what food
Will he convey up thither to sustain
Himself and his rash army, where thin air
Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross,
And famish him of breath, if not of bread?
(63-78)
"What a stupid man," said Adam, "to think he could make himself lord over his brothers. God gave us authority over the animals only, not over people. He's the only one who can rule over us. and to make matters worse, he builds this tower to defy God. How stupid! Where did he expect to get food to feed himself and his army up there?-that is, if he didn't run out of air to breath first."
2. Jesus's resurrection: redeemed paradise, felix culpa
Then to the heaven of heavens he shall ascend
With victory, triumphing through the air
Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
The serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains
Through all his realm, and there confounded leave;
Then enter into glory, and resume
His seat at God¡¯s right hand, exalted high
Above all names in heaven; and thence shall come,
When this world¡¯s dissolution shall be ripe,
With glory and power to judge both quick and dead,
To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward
His faithful, and receive them into bliss,
Whether in heaven or earth, for then the earth
Shall all be paradise, far happier place
Than this of Eden, and far happier days.
(451-465)
Jesus will go up to Heaven. On his way there he'll surprise Satan, who is flying around, and chain him up and drag him down into Hell and dump him there, stunned and confused. Then he'll go sit beside his father in Heaven. And then when the end of the world comes, he'll come down again and judge everybody and reward all the faithful ones. They could go to Heaven or stay on Earth, because Earth will become a Paradise again, even better than it was before.
3. Adam's "Paradise Within"
Greatly instructed I shall hence depart,
Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill
Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain;
Beyond which was my folly to aspire.
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in presence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him sole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good
Still overcoming evil, and by small
Accomplishing great things, by things deemed weak
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise
By simply meek; that suffering for truth¡¯s sake
Is fortitude to highest victory,
And to the faithful death the gate of life;
Taught this by his example whom I now
Acknowledge my redeemer ever blessed.
To whom thus also the angel last replied:
This having learned, thou hast attained the sum
Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars
Thou knew¡¯st by name, and all the ethereal powers,
All secrets of the deep, all nature¡¯s works,
Or works of God in heaven, air, earth, or sea,
And all the riches of this world enjoyed¡¯st,
And all the rule, one empire; only add
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add faith,
Add virtue, patience, temperance, add love,
By name to come called Charity, the soul
Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath
To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess
A paradise within thee, happier far.
(557-587)
When I leave now I'll have peace of mind, with your great teachings. You have given me everything I need to know. I learned that you're better off obeying God. and you should love him and fear him. And you should act like he's always right there watching you. And trust him to take care of everything. And by just being nice, you can beat the big, strong ones. And if you always tell the truth, you'll win in the end. And that if you are faithful, when you die you'll get a new life. I learned all this from you by the example of hearing all about the one I now understand to be my Savior." Michael answered, "Then you know everything you need to know. If you knew the name of every star, and every angel, and all the secrets of nature and Heaven, and you were the richest man in the world, you would be no better off. Now you just need to do good deeds, and be faithful, and patient, and not greedy, and be loving, which means be kind. Then you won't mind leaving this Paradise because you'll have an even happier Paradise inside you.