No Priest more frank the Ghoftly Counfel gives;
No Lay-man with more lib'ral Hand relieves.
Unpractis'd in the Worldly Shepherd's Guile,
His Life's whole Business is to reconcile;
His very Aspect breathes an Air of Grace
So mild, he carries Gospel in his Face.
PALAMON.
How shall Eufebia then her felf excufe, Whofe Builders cou'd this Corner-ftone refufe? PHILANDER.
Yet e'en th'unjuft Repulfe his Worth confefs'd, Rejected by the Many, not the Best.
Ah! without Envy let the Truth be told, Such as ne'er knew the Shepherd's staff to hold, Fear'd Moderation wou'd fet ope the Fold.
PHILANDER.
Oft have I found, while I my Sheep did guide To Pastures fweet, the Friendly Gate fet wide; They freely enter'd, and my Crook obey'd, But ftill of narrow Inlets were afraid: Or if a Bridg too ftreight they fpy'd afore, Wou'd rather take the Stream, than venture o'er. But fay, what Prejudice had thence enfu'd, Had they receiv'd the feparate Multitude? Was ever Shepherd yet a Foe to Peace, Or e'er repin'd to fee his Flock increase?
The Fold fet ope, had gain'd more Sheep,'tis true, But had withal receiv'd more Shepherds too, Who with new Stewards Diligence at first (If not for Conscience-fake) their Flocks had nurs'd; Our Loiterers from hence forefaw their Doom, When none but painful Pastors cou'd have room. This made 'em rave like Men on Ruin's brink, And cry, the Deluge comes, ftop ev'ry Chink, Shut faft the Door, or else the Ark will fink.
To lofe one ufelefs Peg did Shipwreck feem,
And ev'ry rotten Rafter was a Beam.
PHILANDER.
Let question'd Beauties owe their Charms to Drefs,
Eufebia's Frame does all that's Fair poffefs;
Too gaudy Tire but makes a Matron fcorn'd,
Let mild Eufebia thine
A Firmament by her own Stars-adorn'd.
PALEMON.
Yet Meteors to the Firmament may rife,
And Comets Peftilent invade the Skies:
'Twas fo of old.
Their Influence in firft Ages did appear,
Bright and untroubled fhone the Church's Sphere,
Till Sons of Vengeance got th' Afcendent there.
In petty Factions firft her Stars engag'd,
Till War broke out, and Perfecution rag'd.
This Peft, by Conftantine's warm Summer bred,
At once thro all th'infected Clergy spread.
The bloody Paths had long in vain been trod,
Till Heathen Princes, tir'd, threw down the Rod;
Ambitious Priests the Utenfil to burn
Thought pity, till themselves had took their turn,
And perfecuting by more dextrous Rules,
Prov'd Maximine and Dioclesian Fools.
'Twas Rooting up God's Heritage before,
While Magistrates the Iron Scepter bore:
In Them the Exercife, tho more fevere,
Was Difcipline, and Ecclefiaftick Care.
PHILANDER.
For Church or State on Conscience to impofe, Muft wider make the Breach they think to close : And he that Fetters wou'd for Reafon find, May fhackle the Sun-beams, and grasp the Wind, Which no Restraints of Human Laws will know, But where and when they please will shine or blow.
But Truth should bind; And your Opinion's true,
And erring Judgments should submit to you,
1 grant.
But first you must convince by Reafon's Light,
That They mistake, and You are in the right:
Where You mistake, and they the Truth may hit,
Will you to your own Rule of Force submit?
You'll plead the Privilege They urg'd before,
Conviction crave, and They demand no more.
Conviction clear the Soul can only win;
With Club or Hammer try to force the Pin, (in.
The Brains you may beat out,ne'r drive theÑotion,
Abfurd the Zeal that Gospel's Pow'r promotes
'Gainst Gospel-Laws, and Peace by cutting Throats;
That Faith to plant does Charity disband,
And break for doubtful Truths a clear Command.
Since first this Peft the Chriftian World annoy'd,
Since Perfecuting Power the Church enjoy'd,
Zeal marr'd Religion, Creeds the Faith destroy'd.
PALAMON.
Where Rome bears fway, bid Laws Divine farewel, And Human Rights t'affert, is to rebel.
Speak, fuffering Witnefs, I appeal to Thee,
Thou First Apoftle of our Liberty,
Condemn'd to Stripes. Thy Crime? Thou didst pre-
To write 'gainst Arbitrary Pow'r and Rome;
Didft Inferences of ftrange Treafon draw,
And fay, 'Twas legal to defend the Law.
Thy envious Foes no other Crimes could urge,
And to confute thy Pen, produc'd the Scourge.
PHILANDER.
You mention'd Conftantine, in whofe mild Reign
The harass'd Church did first her Freedom gain,
When Priefts fecure to Bifhopricks afpir'd,
Without First Fruits of Martyrdom requir❜d :
Tell me, How then could Cruelty intrude?
How came the Perfecuting Plague renew'd?
Luft, Riot, Avarice, Ambition, Strife, Are Baftard Off-fprings of too peaceful Life. With nice Difputes the wanton Priests began, To Envy next, and wild Confusion ran; Wou'd Mysteries too curiously enquire,
That firft rais'd Smoke,then fet the Church on Fire.
From brangling Arius the first Fire-brand came;
PHILANDER.
But Conftantine took care to quench the Flame,
PALA MO N.
The Nicene Fathers, fummon'd to decide
The Strife, instead of Lenitives apply'd,
Too late convinc'd th' indulgent Emperor,
How fatal 'twas to truft a Prieft with Pow'r,
PHILANDER.
The pious Prince, to do th' Affembly Grace, Refus'd (I've heard) Himself to take his place, Till they were fat.-'Twas Favour ill apply'd, If fuch Behaviour taught the Doctors Pride. PALA MON.
Then having, as a Christian Monarch ought,
Firft burnt th'Invectives which the Fathers brought
Against each Other, and for Union prefs'd,
Thus to the Council he himself addrefs'd:
God made you Priests, and God alone can be
Your Judg; Reft therefore from my Cenfure free;
No Man fhou'd judg of Gods,and You are Gods to Me..
PHILANDER.
When Princes yield, the Prelate muft prevail.
PALA MON.
When e'r did Prieft to take Advantage fail?
Forthwith Church-Cenfures flew as thick as Hail:
The Arian Syftem to juft Flames affign'd,
And Nicene Creed with Penalties enjoyn'd.
They fix'd not here; but for each trifling Caufe
The Metal try'd of their new Penal Laws.
Think how each Victor went triumphant home,
With Titles fwell'd too bulky for his Dome,
From Council Orthodox and Catholick;
Each Hare that crofs'd him was an Heretick.
And if his Horse but stumbl'd in his way,
Th'erroneous Beaft incur'd th' Anathema.
PHILANDER.
Yet, fince they fquar'd by Rules of Sacred Writ Their Symbol, you to their Decrees submit. PALA MON
I own what e'er the Sacred Books contain,
Can Mysteries believe, tho not explain;
Have none in Footsteps of first Martyrs trod,
And dy'd for Truth, who ne'r conceiv'd the Mode?
Brand fuch as won't to Truths reveal'd agree,
But Penalties on fuch as cannot fee
What others can, is Breach of Charity.
Had Charity in Synods interpos'd,
The seamless Garment's Rent had foon been clos'd,
Which to repair the wrangling Doctors try'd,
(While Metaphyficks Sacred Truths decide)
And by ill-botching made the Rent more wide;
But they had now learnt Sciences, and must
To their own Fame, as well as Truth be Juft:
Would Mysteries, not like Mechanicks know,
But both the on and on fhow;
Were fubtle School- men grown, and to agree,
Had Scandal been to their Philofopby.
PHILANDER.
But tell me, did these Clouds the Faith invade, When first whole Nations were its Converts made?
(Mists, The Faith fhone clear till School-terms,rais'd like Favour'd the Juggles of impofing Priests, And Councils having Scripture Bounds o'er-past, Advanc'd to forging of New Creeds at last;
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