And most of all in man that ministers And serves the altar, in my soul I loath What!-will a man play tricks, will he indulge He mocks his Maker, prostitutes and shames Displaying his own beauty, starves his flock! And start theatric, practised at the glass! Who handles things divine; and all besides, Tho' learn'd with labour, and tho' much admir'd By curious eyes and judgments ill-inform'd, Heard at conventicle, where worthy men, With op'ra glass, to watch the moving scene, -- Now this is fulsome; and offends me more Than in a churchman slovenly neglect And rustic coarseness would. An heav'nly mind May be indifferent to her house of clay, And slight the hovel as beneath her care; And quaint, in its deportment and attire, He that negociates between God and man, To court a grin, when you should woo a soul; Pathetic exhortation; and t' address The skittish fancy with facetious tales, When sent with God's commission to the heart! So did not Paul. Direct me to a quip Or merry turn in all he ever wrote, And I consent you take it for your text, Your only one, till sides and benches fail. No: he was serious in a serious cause, And understood too well the weighty terms That he had ta'en in charge. He would not stoop Το conquer those by jocular exploits, Whom truth and soberness assail'd in vain. Oh, popular applause! what heart of man But, swell'd into a gust—who then, alas! And therefore heedless, can withstand thy pow'r? And craving poverty; and in the bow Is oft too welcome, and may much disturb The bias of the purpose. How much more, Ah, spare your idol! think him human still. admire. All truth is from the sempiternal source Of light divine.. But Egypt, Greece, and Rome, Drew from the stream below. More favour'd, we Drink, when we choose it, at the fountain head. To them it flow'd much mingled and defil'd With hurtful error, prejudice, and dreams Illusive of philosophy, so call'd, But falsely. Sages after sages strove In vain to filter off a crystal draught Pure from the lees, which often more enhanc'd The thirst that slack'd it, and not seldom bred Intoxication and delirium wild. In vain they push'd inquiry to the birth |