As needy men take money, good or bad;
God's word they had not, but the priest's they had.
Yet, whate'er false conveyances they made,
The lawyer still was certain to be paid.
In those dark times they learn'd their knack so well, That by long use they grew infallible:
At last, a knowing age began t' inquire If they the Book, or that did them inspire;
And, making narrower search, they found, tho' late, That what they thought the priest's was their estate; Taught by the will produc'd (the written word) How long they had been cheated on record. Then ev'ry man, who saw the title fair, Claim'd a child's part, and put in for a share; 395 Consulted soberly his private good,
And sav'd himself as cheap as e'er he could.
'Tis true, my friend, (and far be flatt'ry hence) This good had full as bad a consequence : The Book thus put in ev'ry vulgar hand, Which each presum'd he best could understand, The common rule was made the common prey, And at the mercy of the rabble lay:
The tender page with horny fists was gall'd,
And he was gifted most that loudest bawl'd:
The Spirit gave the doctoral degree, And ev'ry member of a company
Was of his trade, and of the Bible, free.
Plain truths enough for needful use they found, But men would still be itching to expound : Each was ambitious of th' obscurest place, No measure ta'en from knowledge all from grace : Study and pains were now no more their care, Texts were explain'd by fasting and by pray'r; This was the fruit the private spirit brought, Occasion'd by great zeal and little thought. While crowds unlearn'd, with rude devotion warm, About the sacred viands buz and swarm,
The fly-blown text creates, a crawling brood,
And turns to maggots what was meant for food. 420 A thousand daily sects rise up and die;
A thousand more the perish'd race supply: So all we make of heav'n's discover'd will, Is not to have it, or to use it ill.
The danger's much the same, on sev'ral shelves, 42 5 If others wreck us, or we wreck ourselves.
What then remains, but waving each extreme, The tides of ignorance and pride to stem. Neither so rich a treasure to forego,
Nor proudly seek beyond our pow'r to know; 430 Faith is not built on disquisitions vain ;
The things we must believe are few and plain: But since men will believe more than they need, And ev'ry man will make himself a creed, In doubtful questions 'tis the fafest way To learn what unsuspected Ancients say;
For 'tis not likely we should higher soar
In search of heav'n than all the church before; Nor can we be deceiv'd, unless we see The Scripture and the Fathers disagree. If, after all, they stand suspected still, (For no man's faith depends upon his will) 'Tis some relief, that points not clearly known, Without much hazard may be let alone; And after hearing what our church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than by disputes the public peace disturb : For points obscure are of small use to learn, But common quiet is mankind's concern.
Thus have I made my own opinions clear, Yet neither praise expect, nor censuré fear; And this unpolish'd, rugged verse I chose, As fittest for discourse, and nearest prose: For while from sacred truth I do not swerve, Tom Sternhold's or Tom Shadwell's rhymes will
Plain truths enough for needful use they found, But men would still be itching to expound: Each was ambitious of th' obscurest place, No measure ta'en from knowledge all from grace Study and pains were now no more their care, Texts were explain'd by fasting and by pray'r; This was the fruit the private spirit brought, Occasion'd by great zeal and little thought. While crowds unlearn'd, with rude devotion was About the sacred viands buz and swarm, The fly-blown text creates, a crawling brood, And turns to maggots what was meant for food. A thousand daily sects rise up and die; A thousand more the perish'd race supply: So all we make of heav'n's discover'd will, Is not to have it, or to use it ill.
The danger's much the same, on sev'ral shelves, If others wreck us, or we wreck ourselves.
What then remains, but waving each extreme The tides of ignorance and pride to stem. Neither so rich a treasure to forego,
Nor proudly seck beyond our pow'r to know; Faith is not built on disquisitions vain ; The things we must believe are few and plain: But since men will believe more than they need, And ev'ry man will make himself a creed, In doubtful questions 'tis the fafest way To learn what unsuspected Ancients say;
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