The Hind and the Panther.
39
If any shou'd in after times appear,
New Councils must be call'd, to make the meaning clear.
Because in them the pow'r supreme resides;
And all the promises are to the Guides.
This may be taught with sound and safe Defence:
But mark how sandy is your own pretence,
Who setting Councils, Pope, and Church aside,
Are ev'ry Man his own presuming Guide.
The sacred Books you say, are full and plain,
And ev'ry needful Point of Truth contain:
All who can read, Interpreters may be:
Thus though your several Churches disagree,
Yet ev'ry Saint has to himself alone
The Secret of this Philosophick Stone.
These Principles your jarring Sects unite,
When diff'ring Doctors and Disciples Fight.
Though Luther, Zuinglius, Calvin, holy Chiefs
Have made a Battel Royal of Beliefs;
Or like wild Horses sev'ral ways have whirl'd
The tortur'd Text about the Christian World;
New Councils must be call'd, to make the meaning clear.
Because in them the pow'r supreme resides;
And all the promises are to the Guides.
This may be taught with sound and safe Defence:
But mark how sandy is your own pretence,
Who setting Councils, Pope, and Church aside,
Are ev'ry Man his own presuming Guide.
The sacred Books you say, are full and plain,
And ev'ry needful Point of Truth contain:
All who can read, Interpreters may be:
Thus though your several Churches disagree,
Yet ev'ry Saint has to himself alone
The Secret of this Philosophick Stone.
These Principles your jarring Sects unite,
When diff'ring Doctors and Disciples Fight.
Though Luther, Zuinglius, Calvin, holy Chiefs
Have made a Battel Royal of Beliefs;
Or like wild Horses sev'ral ways have whirl'd
The tortur'd Text about the Christian World;
Each
