Detailed Summary Paradise Lost Book III Part II, Paradise Lost by John Milton Detailed Summary
Man will repent and pray to Him for forgiveness and mercy and for this to happen God shall put his umpire "Conscience" in man. God also makes it clear that mercy shall be only for those that remain steadfast and desire it from God Almighty: "They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste;
But hard be hard'nd, blind be blinded more,
That they may stumble on, and deeper fall;
And none but such from mercy I exclude."
Here Christ offers himself to go to the world as a human being; he would bear the agony of Death and would take the anger of God on himself.
"I offer, on mee let thine anger fall;
Account mee man; I for his sake will leave
Thy bosom, and this glorie next to thee
Freely put off, and for him lastly die
Well pleas'd, on me let Death wreck all his rage"
The whole proposition and offer of sacrifice appeases God so much that He lays the world and man upon Christ's discretion. God permits him the proposition and promises to forgive and raise every mortal for whom Christ prays and desires:
"The Head of all mankind, though ADAMS Son.
As in him perish all men, so in thee
As from a second root shall be restor'd,
As many as are restor'd, without thee none."
