Season 3 Podcast 233, Milton's Paradise Lost Bk IX, Pt XXII, "Temptation of Eve Pt D"
Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk IX, Pt XXIV, “Temptation of Eve Pt D”
In the preface to Book IX, Milton presents the following abstract
the serpent, now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat,
He continues his deceitful argument.
Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast
Is open? or will God incense his ire
For such a pretty Trespass, and not praise
Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain
Of Death denounc’t, whatever thing Death be,
Deterred not from achieving what might lead
To happier life, knowledge of Good and Evil;
The irony is that in one thing Satan, though self-deceived, is right. Knowledge of Good and Evil will lead to a happier life because they will experience opposition. Satan does not comprehend the ways of God. He does not even comprehend that the fall is necessary, or he would have stayed out of the Garden of Eden. Notice the subtlety of his argument because, though laced with lies, it contains some eternal truth.
Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil
Be real, why not known, since easier shunned?
Satan is cunning and clever, and his argument is rather persuasive. However, his cunning carries him too far.
God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;
Milton’s Lucifer does not understand the law of justice, neither does he understand the law of mercy. It is the law of justice that requires payment for any broken law. The law of justice is unique. It cannot be bargained with. It is irreversible, unalterable, and unmerciful. It cannot be robbed or cheated or altered or overturned or reformed or revised or amended. It is absolute. God is God because he is just. There is more safety in justice than there is in mercy. If God were not a just God, imagine the chaos that would ensue. Mercy can satisfy the law of justice, but it cannot alter the law of justice. Mercy can overpower the law of justice, but it cannot rob the law of justice. The only reason Christ can save us through the law of mercy is because he perfectly obeyed the Father in all things and through his atoning sacrifice, he paid the price for our sins. As Paul said,
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Lucifer tries to portray God as an unjust god.
Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed:
Your fear itself of Death removes the fear.
Justice and fairness are not the same thing. Justice is the controlling law of the universe that governs all other laws. Fairness is a term we use to measure mercy. We may not think it fair, for example, that because of the transgression of Adam and Eve all mankind suffered from the fall. Justice has nothing to do with fairness or mercy. Justice is above opinion, above adjudication. If a law is broken justice takes immediate and impartial action. It is because of the law of justice that the atonement was necessary. Even God must bow to the law of justice. To save mankind, the Father had to sacrifice his only begotten son to satisfy the law justice. The paradox is that justice is not a law external to God. It is the very essence of God himself. He is just. If he were unjust, he would cease to be God. God is at one with justice by necessity because justice governs all laws, temporal and spiritual, mortal and immortal, time and eternity, physical and metaphysical.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
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