375

And none but priests were authorized to know;
When what small knowledge was in them did dwell
And he a God who could but read or spell;
Then Mother Church did mightily prevail;
She parcelled out the Bible by retail,
But still expounded what she sold or gave,
To keep it in her power to damn and save.
Scripture was scarce, and as the market went,
Poor laymen took salvation on content,
As needy men take money, good or bad;

380

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.

385

In those dark times they learned their knack so well, That by long use they grew infallible.

At last, a knowing age began to inquire

If they the Book or that did them inspire;

And making narrower search they found, though late,
That what they thought the priest's was their estate, 391
Taught by the will produced, the written word,
How long they had been cheated on record.
Then every man, who saw the title fair,
Claimed a child's part and put in for a share,
Consulted soberly his private good,

395

And saved himself as cheap as e'er he could.
'Tis true, my friend (and far be flattery hence),
This good had full as bad a consequence;
The Book thus put in every vulgar hand,
Which each presumed he best could understand,

400

The common rule was made the common prey,
And at the mercy of the rabble lay.

The tender page with horny fists was galled,

And he was gifted most that loudest bawled;

405

The spirit gave the doctoral degree,

And every 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;

410

Each was ambitious of the obscurest place,

415

No measure ta'en from Knowledge, all from GRACE.
Study and pains were now no more their care,
Texts were explained by fasting and by prayer:
This was the fruit the private spirit brought,
Occasioned by great zeal and little thought.
While crowds unlearned, with rude devotion warm,
About the sacred viands buzz 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 perished race supply:

So all we make of Heaven's discovered will

Is not to have it or to use it ill.

The danger's much the same, on several shelves 425
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 forgo
Nor proudly seek beyond our power 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 every man will make himself a creed,
In doubtful questions 'tis the safest way
To learn what unsuspected ancients say;
For 'tis not likely we should higher soar

In search of Heaven than all the Church before;
Nor can we be deceived, unless we see

430

435

The Scripture and the Fathers disagree.

440

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.

445

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 censure fear;
And this unpolished rugged verse I chose
As fittest for discourse and nearest prose;
For while from sacred truth I do not swerve,

450

455

Tom Sternhold's or Tom Shadwell's rhymes will serve.

THE HIND AND THE PANTHER.

А РОЕМ.

IN THREE PARTS.

'Antiquam exquirite matrem.'

VIRG. [Æn. iii. 96.]

'Et vera incessu patuit Dea.'

[Ibid. i. 405.]

L