A STRICTURE ON THE REV. MR. WARBURTON'S DOCTRINE OF GRACE.
I
Writing or Scripture, Sacred or profane,
Can only render History more plain
Of what was done or said by God or Man,
Since the Creation of the World began.
Tho' ev'ry Word in Sacred Page be true,
To give Account is all that it can do.
II
Now an Account of Things, as done or said,
Is not a living Letter, but a dead,—
A Picture only, which may represent,
But cannot give us, what is really meant.
He that has got a Map into his Hand
May use the Name, but knows it is not Land.
III
So, in the Bible when we come to look,
(That is, by way of Eminence, The Book)
We must not fancy that it can bestow
The Things themselves which we desire to know.
It can but yield, however true and plain,
Verbal Directions how we may obtain.
IV
Tho' a Prescription be directly sure
Upon the Patient's taking it to cure,
No one imagines that the worded Bill
Becomes itself the Remedy for Ill.
The Med'cines taken, as the Bill directs,
Procure the salutiferous Effects.
V
Who, then, can place in any written Code
The Holy Ghost's, the Comforter's, Abode?
“Constant Abode,—supreme Illumination,”—
What Copy can be This, or what Translation?
The Spirit's Dwelling, by th' attesting Pen
Of all th' inspir'd, is in the Hearts of Men.
VI
Were Books his constant Residence indeed,
What must the Millions do who cannot read?
When they who can so vary in their Sense,
What must distinguish true from false Pretence?
If they must follow where the learnèd guide,
What diff'rent Spirits in one Book abide!
VII
Genius for Parodox, however bright,
Cannot well justify this Oversight.
Better to own the Truth, for the Truth's Sake,
Than to persist in such a gross Mistake!
Books are but Books: th' illuminating Part
Depends on God's good Spirit in the Heart.
VIII
“The Comforter,” Christ said, “will come again,
Abide with, dwell in”—not your Books, but—“you.”
Just as absurd an Ink-and-Paper Throne
For God's Abode as one of Wood and Stone!
If to adore an Image be Idolatry,
To deify a Book is Bibliolatry.
