In an attempt to defend both divine providence and free will, Milton's God justifies the inherent gap between fate and free choice. Upholding the belief that man is created with sufficient qualities to stand alone, Milton's God effectively detaches himself from the implications of the fall of man on Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Even though Milton's God foresees what the future holds, he does not manipulate the destiny of Man. Not only is free will consistent with Milton's doctrine of God, but it also embodies the purity and untouched nature of God. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayMilton's God in no way predetermines man's destiny. In a seemingly defensive but compelling speech, God asserts that he “made [man] just and righteous, / Sufficient to stand, though free to fall” (III. 98-99). Man is created with distinctive characteristics that complement his virtue, and God has given him “all that he could have” (III. 98). These characteristics can lead man to accept or reject obedience to God. Milton's God convincingly argues that man's virtue does not necessarily protect him from falling, but simply allows him to act freely. The plethora of archangels falling from heaven testifies to the truth that even sinless angels who once served God in heaven are subject to fall. Created by Milton's God, "the ethereal powers / and spirits, those who stood and those who failed" (III. 100-01) control their own respective destinies because "those who stood stood freely and those who have fallen have fallen” (III. 102). Omniscient God, on the other hand, although aware of the future of his creations, has no influence on their individual destiny and thus preserves his justice. Those who “stood” embraced God’s obedience while those who “fell” rebelled and were the cause of their own demise. An omnipotent and flawless figure, Milton's God esteems those who respect his doctrine. Nevertheless, it allows Man to act in the way that his character guides him. Valuing “true allegiance, steadfast faith [and] love” (III. 104), Milton's God grants man the choice of whether or not to adopt such qualities. Whatever the repercussions if man neglects God's values, the simple reality that man has the choice to choose his destiny verifies that God grants him free will. The fallen angels, “authors of everything, of what they judge and of what they choose”, have no right to contest the judgment of God, as it is formed free, “free they must remain” (III. 122-24). Free choice is therefore clearly the determining factor which dictates the destiny of Man. Meanwhile, God remains a virtuous and faultless spectator who simply grants man free choice. Milton's God does not seek satisfaction by witnessing the downfall of his subjects. Rather, he is dismayed by such circumstances and wishes the most glorious future for those beneath him: What pleasure to me, of such paid obedience, when will and reason (reason too is choice), useless and vain, of freedom both stripped away. , Made passive both, had served Necessity, Not me? (III. 107-11) Any feeling of “necessity” that may emerge is not a feeling of necessity to obey God, but rather a feeling of temptation to obey Satan. There is no feeling of submission to God in the fact.