John Miltons On the Morning of Christs Nativity :: On the Morning of Christs Nativity Essays

seat Miltons On the Morning of christs Nativity John Milton was born in 1608 and died in died in 1674. He was by farthest the most learned man of his time. He influenced men from the Romantic poets to the American Puritans. Moreover, he relied heavily on the historic Christian doctrine of Calvinism. In the first four stanzas of On the Morning of Christs Nativity Milton paints a exquisite picture of mans redemption in Christ. First, the first four stanzas of Miltons poem pass water a distinct hoarfrost turning away. The rhyme scheme is an adaptation of the rhyme scheme in Spensers The Faerie Queen. In Spensers poem the stanza rhyme scheme is ababbcbcc. In Miltons poem the rhyme scheme is ababbcc. The two poems have similar rhyme schemes except Spensers poem has an extra cb. Second, the most common feature film of the first four stanzas is the striking allusion. In the stanza, Milton speaks of the son of Heavens eternal office born of a virgin become bringing redemption fro m above. The poof of Heaven is the Christian God. This is a quote from Daniel 4. The virgin mother is Mary, mother of Jesus. This is a prophecy of the birth of Christ from Isaiah 7 fulfilled in Luke 2. The redemption from above is the redemption written of in Romans 327. The set apart sages once did sing (they prophesied) about Christs releasing the elect of cobblers last from the scratch (Genesis 3). These prophecies ar in Isaiah 9 and 40, among other places. They were fulfilled in Christs death and resurrection, and God now works a perpetual peace in His elect. The second stanza is much like the first, with allusion as the main feature. The glorious nervous strain and light insufferable are symbolic of God. Exodus 3320 says no man shall see the face of God and live. Here Milton specifically writes about the Son, Jesus Christ. Milton says He sat in Trinal Unity at Heavens high council-table. Trinal Unity refers to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. All three are separate and distinct Persons of one God. They are in perfect unity. Finally, Milton says Christ forsook His glory and came here with us. This is a reference to Philippians 2 where Christ humbles Himself and makes Himself in the form of a servant. Finally, Milton says He chose a darksome house of mortal clay. This alludes to 1 Corinthians 47 where Paul calls men jars of clay.