XXV.
Our Founder answered, "Art thou from the pit?
Get thee behind me, if such thoughts be thine;
Did Christ his gospel to the world commit,
That his meek followers might in purple shine?
He spurned the foul temptation, it is writ,
And the Great Tempter felt his power divine;
Art thou far wiser than thy Master grown,
And spurn'st a heavenly for an earthly crown?"
XXVI.
"Nay—nay, friend Williams!" the grave elder cried,
"It is that crown of glory to secure
That the True Church should for her saints provide
The shield of law 'gainst heresy impure;
Quell every schism—crush the towering pride
Of the dark Tempter, ere his reign is sure;
For many finds he who are servants meet
To sow for him the tares among the wheat.
XXVII.
"Men ever busy, searching for the new,
Scanning our creed as if it doubtful were,
These would we hold perforce our doctrines to,
And the vain labor to convert them spare;
God may in time their restless souls renew,
And give them of his grace a saving share;—
Meanwhile our Church their errors would restrain,
And to her creed their wayward minds enchain."
XXVIII.
"A mortal thou!" our Founder here replied,
"Yet judge of conscience,—searcher of the heart
Thou, the elect?—but if it be denied,
How wilt thou prove it, or its proofs impart?
