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The Hind and the Panther.
The French reform'd, from Preaching you restrain,
Because you judge their Ordination vain;
And so they judge of yours, but Donors must ordain.
In short in Doctrine, or in Discipline
Not one reform'd, can with another join:
But all from each, as from Damnation fly;
No Union they pretend, but in Non-Popery.
Nor should their Members in a Synod meet,
Cou'd any Church presume to mount the Seat
Above the rest, their discords to decide;
None wou'd obey, but each wou'd be the Guide:
And face to face Dissentions wou'd encrease;
For only distance now preserves the Peace.
All in their Turns accusers, and accus'd:
Babel was never half so much confus'd.
What one can plead, the rest can plead as well;
For amongst equals lies no last appeal,
And all confess themselves are fallible.
Now since you grant some necessary Guide,
All who can err are justly laid aside:
Because you judge their Ordination vain;
And so they judge of yours, but Donors must ordain.
In short in Doctrine, or in Discipline
Not one reform'd, can with another join:
But all from each, as from Damnation fly;
No Union they pretend, but in Non-Popery.
Nor should their Members in a Synod meet,
Cou'd any Church presume to mount the Seat
Above the rest, their discords to decide;
None wou'd obey, but each wou'd be the Guide:
And face to face Dissentions wou'd encrease;
For only distance now preserves the Peace.
All in their Turns accusers, and accus'd:
Babel was never half so much confus'd.
What one can plead, the rest can plead as well;
For amongst equals lies no last appeal,
And all confess themselves are fallible.
Now since you grant some necessary Guide,
All who can err are justly laid aside:
Because
