Herman Melville

“ For time the spirit of his Lord
On earth. If sad perversion came
Unto his order--what of that? ⁠80
All Christianity shares the same:
Pure things men need adulterate
And so adapt them to the kind. ”

“ But even at best, one might reply,
Man is that thing of sad renown ⁠105
Which moved a deity to come down
And save him. Lay not too much stress
Upon the carnal manliness:
The Christliness is better--higher ”