"Blind Faith"

In the beginning of book three we have finally reached Heaven and it is here Milton calls to the holy light of God. The thing I found most interesting in this first passage was Milton himself. Even after the first two books we of course know we’re going to get to God eventually, but the way he sets up the beginning of book three, yes its celestial and praising the light of God, but it is also praising Milton in a way, or he is praising himself. Here he is giving himself and his readers his authority to be able to tell this story of Satan and God, an authority given to him by God. And it was by God’s that he was able to venture forth into hell and then back again up to heaven, safe and sound for his purposes. Then, he being blind also compares himself to various blind poets, prophets and kings that he names such as Tirerias and Phineus. The end of the passage however is the most interesting because it is where the true authority lies. Yes Milton is blind, and although he may not be able to read the book of nature or see actual light, God has given and blessed him with a greater gift, a gift of internal sight that is far greater than that of any sight man might have, which in a way makes men the truly blind and Milton aware of all the knowledge of heaven so that he may tell this story. This faith and authority lead me straight to the presumption of Moses, which Milton is in a way comparing himself to Moses, who wrote the Pentateuch, which are the first five books of the bible and of course include the book of Genesis. Moses wrote these with the affirmation that these were the perfect and correct words of God, of how things were in the beginning, before there was anyone to witness them happening, so he was writing from the authority of God, which in a way is how Milton is gaining his authority for Paradise Lost in the passage.