 | Rogero-Mastir |  |
Thou sayst, External Forms by Fox decreed,
Are set as Marks to know the Chaff from th'Seed.
This is another Whisker, like the rest,
Hatcht by the Lying Spirit in thy Breast,
Brought forth by cancred Envy, with design
To shake the weak, and cause them to decline
The way of Truth. Thus doth the Serpent lay
His baited Hooks, the simple to betray.
But by the Truth, his Wiles discover'd are,
That the most weak may see, and shun the Snare.
In thy last-cited words I do detect
Two most notorious Falshoods, and expect
Thy Proof; for what thou chargest, I deny,
And turn't back on thee as a double Ly.
One, That External Forms have been decreed
By FOX: This is a shameless Lye indeed.
Bring that Decree forth, that it may be seen,
If ever any such Decree hath been,
That ev'ry one may with his own Eyes see,
And not be fain to pin his Faith on thee.
Thy other Falshood is, Those Forms decreed,
Are set as Marks to know the Chaff from th'Seed.
This also, as a Slander, I reject,
By which thou would'st unstable Minds infect.
So Forms, as Marks to know the Seed, are set.
The Seed is known by weight and Vertue; yet
It is not void of Form, but doth receive
Its proper Form, which thou can'st not bereave
Ye of, with all thy Railing: Truth remains
The fame, not blemished by Envy's stains.
The Chaff too, William, is by lightness known:
By lightness hath thy chaffy Spirit shown.
Burnt up, the Chaff shall be with quenchless Fire:
Oh William! unto thee that day is nigher
Than tho'rt aware. My Spirit mourns to see
Thee raving on the brink of Misery.
Are set as Marks to know the Chaff from th'Seed.
This is another Whisker, like the rest,
Hatcht by the Lying Spirit in thy Breast,
23
To shake the weak, and cause them to decline
The way of Truth. Thus doth the Serpent lay
His baited Hooks, the simple to betray.
But by the Truth, his Wiles discover'd are,
That the most weak may see, and shun the Snare.
In thy last-cited words I do detect
Two most notorious Falshoods, and expect
Thy Proof; for what thou chargest, I deny,
And turn't back on thee as a double Ly.
One, That External Forms have been decreed
By FOX: This is a shameless Lye indeed.
Bring that Decree forth, that it may be seen,
If ever any such Decree hath been,
That ev'ry one may with his own Eyes see,
And not be fain to pin his Faith on thee.
Thy other Falshood is, Those Forms decreed,
Are set as Marks to know the Chaff from th'Seed.
This also, as a Slander, I reject,
By which thou would'st unstable Minds infect.
So Forms, as Marks to know the Seed, are set.
The Seed is known by weight and Vertue; yet
It is not void of Form, but doth receive
Its proper Form, which thou can'st not bereave
Ye of, with all thy Railing: Truth remains
The fame, not blemished by Envy's stains.
The Chaff too, William, is by lightness known:
By lightness hath thy chaffy Spirit shown.
Burnt up, the Chaff shall be with quenchless Fire:
Oh William! unto thee that day is nigher
Than tho'rt aware. My Spirit mourns to see
Thee raving on the brink of Misery.
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