The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thus Men made Kings—and, when they once were made,
All Man's remaining Rights were soon betray'd;
His heart soon made repent such headlong choice
By Pride—Oppression—Vanity—and Vice.

But how shall They such priceless Rights retrieve,
Who venal Statesmen, or base Priests, believe?
Who boldly urge Man ought no more endeavour
To claim them back, for ever and for ever.

What! may not Man reclaim deputed Pow'r
When Despots, Rights reserv'd, at once, devour?
And may not all such mutual Pacts be broke
When Truth and Justice Tyrants turn to Joke?
Are They not everlasting, like their Sire?
Nor can become extinct, as Rogues require?
And ought they not in every place prevail,
Tho' Courtiers, High-Priests, Kings, their pow'rs assail?
Who, to indulge their Passions—Lusts—and Pride,
Set all their Influence, and Force, aside.

Ought then base Kings by Man created, stand
Against the Judgment of an injur'd Land?
And may not large majorities made known
The Despots, they ordain'd, again dethrone?
Again the Creatures of their Pow'r depose
When those embraced as Friends become base Foes?

But let not Man endeavour to destroy
That Life Man's labour never can supply—

No! let sweet Mercy still the Tyrant save—
None may reclaim the Gift he never gave—
That were attempting Justice most unjust;
Destroying Truth which God ne'er gave in trust,
Life, to no Being but Themselves, assign'd,
Among the various Ranks of human Kind—
Nor can a Creature as a right resign
But only Him, who made it Mine, or Thine.

While, thus, my Pen pursues politic task,
Some Hypocrite may, here, this question ask,
Would such lax Doctrines Christ's Apostles please?
Will modern Prelates relish Rules like these?
Or will the Pensioner, or Placeman, find
Such sentiments suffice their slavish Mind?
They see their views best serv'd by kingly sway,
Fix'd in good quarters, and with present pay;
And from the greatest, even to the least,
All Kinds embrace the antichristian Beast:
While those who dare Hypocrisy condemn,
Alike abominate the Beast and Them.

“Bow to the higher Pow'rs,” the Priesthood preach—
“Bow to the Pow'rs that be,” proud Statesmen teach—
For while this maxim's forc'd on Fellow-elves,
They hope more honour—Wealth—and Pow'r, Themselves—
Each Tory says the same—and so say I,
To Pow'r supreme, which rules o'er Earth and Sky!
He, as His due, all Honour may demand,
From every Creature both by Sea and Land!
From Saints, and Angels, in blest Realms above,
All glad Allegiance, Gratitude, and Love!
But what have carnal, dying, Kings to do
With such Devoirs from either Me, or You?
'Tis base idolatry, to Creatures shown
The sacred Right of Heav'n's high Lord, alone!

What! with a Crown shall Dupes a Creature deck,
Then bend and bow blasphemous Knee and Neck?
A mortal Man like Deity adore
That Fools, and artful Knaves, have badg'd before?
This was a meaning Peter never meant,
Or Paul, or any Spirit Heav'n e'er sent,
But in base Comments made by Blocks, or Thieves,
Like vile Sacheverel—Filmer—miscreant Reeves!

Paul ne'er could construe such rash conduct right,
By reason led—much less by heavenly Light—
For God had signified from Sinai's throne
His Children, all, should worship Him, alone.
Would God, in Goodness, light a lamp, in Men,
And then, capricious, put it out agen?
Was glorious Reason to a Creature giv'n,
Man's brightest Attribute! from funds of Heav'n,
Then order Priests' extinguishers to place
To quench its rays in all the human Race?

Fixt Stars, and Planets, feeble beams retire,
Before the risen Sun's resplendent fire,
So must mere human Reason's glimmering rays
Oppos'd to Revelation's brighter blaze;
But useful, still, is their inferior light
To shed their lustre o'er the shades of Night;
Nor are the feeble beams with which they shine,
Less than the Sun's more brilliant blaze, divine!
For, while the Sun performs its Maker's Will,
The Moon and Stars, alike, His Laws fulfil—
O'er all the Earth their different helps bestow,
Thro' various offices, of Life, below;
So was bless'd Reason ne'er bestow'd in vain
But ought its destin'd post and task maintain—
And still with strong, but humble, influence, may,
Distinctly temporary truths display.
While Revelation, with its brighter beams,
Diffuses light o'er everlasting themes.

There needs no Revelation to disclose
What Man by Reason, and by Instinct, knows—
The clear connection Brother has with Brother,
And moral rules respecting one another—
That Conscience promptly shows, by shorter plan,
Intuitive, what's due from Man to Man.

	CHAPTER 16th. The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse