While thou sojournest here. Whoever rests
Beneath its roof may not expect a fine,
A dungeon, scourge, or even banishment,
For heresy avowed, or doubted sentiment."
XXII.
They sought the cottage.—Its apartments rude,
But still a shelter from the cold and heat,
A cheerful fire and fur-clad settles shewed,
And other comforts, simple, plain, and neat.
The Elder paused, and all the mansion viewed,
Then, with a long-drawn sigh, he took his seat,
And briefly added—"Thou hast labored, friend,
Hard—very hard! I hope for worthy end."
XXIII.
He paused again, then solemnly began
A sad relation of the Church's state;
O'er many a schism and false doctrine ran,
That had obtruded on its peace of late;
But most alarming was our Founder's plan,
To leave things sacred to the free debate;
To make faith bow to erring reason's shrine,
And mortal man a judge of creeds divine.
XXIV.
"This simple truth no Christian man denies,"
He thus continued, "that the natural mind
Is prone to evil as the sparks to rise,
And to the good is obstinately blind;
Who then sees not, that looks with wisdom's eyes,
That God's elect should rule the human kind?
The good should govern, and the bad submit,
And saints alone are for dominion fit?"
