For the strait gate would be made straiter yet,

Were none admitted there but men of wit. The few by nature form'd, with learning fraught,

Born to instruct, as others to be taught, Must study well the sacred page, and see Which doctrine, this, or that, does best agree

With the whole tenor of the work divine, 330 And plainliest points to Heaven's reveal'd design;

Which exposition flows from genuine sense, And which is forc'd by wit and eloquence. Not that tradition's parts are useless here, When general, old, disinteress'd and clear: That ancient Fathers thus expound the page

Gives truth the reverend majesty of age; Confirms its force, by biding every test; For best authority's next rules are best. And still the nearer to the spring we go, 340 More limpid, more unsoil'd the waters flow. Thus, first traditions were a proof alone, Could we be certain such they were, so known;

But since some flaws in long descent may be,

They make not truth, but probability.
Even Arius and Pelagius durst provoke
To what the centuries preceding spoke.
Such difference is there in an oft-told tale;
But truth by its own sinews will prevail. 349
Tradition written therefore more commends
Authority, than what from voice descends;
And this, as perfect as its kind can be,
Rolls down to us the sacred history,
Which, from the Universal Church re-
ceiv'd,

Is tried, and after for itself believ'd.
The partial Papists would The second

infer from hence

objection.

Poor laymen took salvation on content;
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' enquire
If they the book, or that did them inspire;
And, making narrower search, they found,
tho' late,

390

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 every man who saw the title fair Claim'd a child's part, and put in for a share;

Consulted soberly his private good, And sav'd 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, 400 Which each presum'd he best could understand,

Nor can we be deceiv'd, unless we see 439
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 't is 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.

449

Thus have I made my own opinions clear; Yet neither praise expect, nor censure 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 Sha-ll's rhymes will serve.

On thy sweet mouth distill'd their golden dew,

"T was that such vulgar miracles Heav'n had not leisure to renew: For all the blest fraternity of love Solemniz'd there thy birth, and kept thy holiday above.

IV

O gracious God! how far have we Profan'd thy heav'nly gift of poesy! Made prostitute and profligate the Muse, Debas'd to each obscene and impious use, Whose harmony was first ordain'd above 60 For tongues of angels, and for hymns of love!

O wretched we! why were we hurried down

This lubric and adult'rate age, (Nay, added fat pollutions of our own,) T'increase the steaming ordures of the stage?

What can we say t' excuse our second fall? Let this thy vestal, Heav'n, atone for all: Her Arethusian stream remains unsoil'd, Unmix'd with foreign filth, and undefil'd;

Her wit was more than man, her innocence a child!

V

70

So strange a concourse ne'er was seen before,

But when the peopled ark the whole creation bore.