University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
collapse sectionVI. 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
  
  
  
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
expand section 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XXX. 
 XXXI. 
 XXXII. 
 XXXIII. 
 XXXIV. 
 XXXV. 
 XXXVI. 
 XXXVII. 
 XXXVIII. 
 XXXIX. 
 XL. 
 XLI. 
 XLII. 
 XLIII. 
 XLIV. 
 XLV. 
 XLVI. 
 XLVII. 
 XLVIII. 
 XLIX. 
 L. 
 LI. 
 LII. 
 LIII. 
 LIV. 
 LV. 
 LVI. 
 LVII. 
 LVIII. 
 LIX. 
 LX. 
 LXI. 
 LXII. 
 LXIII. 
 LXIV. 
 LXV. 
 LXVI. 
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 
expand sectionX. 
expand sectionXI. 
expand sectionXII. 
expand sectionXIII. 


299

417.

[A loose morality proceeds]

Then understood they how that He bade them, &c. —xvi. 12.

A loose morality proceeds
Unseen, from the corrupted heart,
Insensibly, as leaven spreads,
By slow degrees, through every part,
Till the whole church depraved we see
With pride, or infidelity.
Still the two clashing sects appear,
Who Jesus and His truth oppose.
The formal Pharisees severe,
Humility's eternal foes,
Exact in every outward rite;
The tombs are beautifully white.
With specious shows, and state, and ease,
They court, and keep the crowd in awe,
But hate the power of godliness,
The Christian life, the Spirit's law,
The faith, the wisdom from above,
The pure morality of love.
Behold the adverse sect arise,
The careless Sadducees profane!
Religions all alike they prize,
Content the things of earth to gain;
No pleasures they but bestial know,
And seek their only heaven below.
United in a common cause
Prelates and infidels admire!
But while to fight against the cross,
All in the holy league conspire,
Atheists and formalists proclaim
The world in every age the same.