Edward Ward

“ Where is your Loyalty, so subtly shown,
Sometimes to the Prince, and sometimes to the Throne,
Sometimes to both, sometimes to ne’er a one:
Thus is it Logically placed behind
So many School-boys Quirks, ’tis hard to find. ”

“ And think a Bow a rank Idolatry.
Religion, like a Prince, though ne’er so Pure,
By Power to Punish, must be made secure,
Or else your Saints, to Reformation given,
Would quickly cut Ten Thousand Paths to Heaven. ”

“ Why do they not Conform entire to me?
If your dark System, they believe most True,
Why not alone Communicate with you?
Those who for Interest, carry fair with both,
Are Just to neither, by their Faith or Troth:
But plunged between two Crimes, to Greatness bent,
Err with the Wrong, and from the Right Dissent.
Grasshopper.
If you wake Laws t’ eclipse my purer light,
And rob my Sons, of what’s their native Right,
The fault’s not theirs, ’tis you incur the blame,
The Cunning’s on their side, on yours the Shame. ”

“ Which, when assailed, good Heaven is still the Prop.
You urge a Barn, or Stable, where you Meet,
A Field, a Coffee-House, Dancing-School or Street,
Are fit for Heavenly Worship, and for Prayer
Sacred, as unpolluted Temples are.
Rare Arrogance indeed, so vilely prone,
To justify Irreverence to a God-head done.
A Room where Men their common Lusts pursue,
Drink, Swear, Lie, Cheat, all Worldly-business do,
In Christian Reason, is a hopeful Place
To beg God’s Presence, or expect His Grace ”