University of Virginia Library

524.

[Who avarice with religion veil]

Who avarice with religion veil
Our Saviour's indignation raise,

341

Who trade in spirituals, and sell
And buy, as in the holy place;
The altar touch with hands impure,
Present, collate, resign, restore,
Employments in the church procure,
And change and barter less for more.
Servants of souls, they take the pay
Rapacious, but the work refuse;
They steal, (while meaner hirelings pray,)
And rob the church, whose goods they use;
We read their sacrilege profane
Recorded in the sacred leaves,
Who make the house of God a den
Of Reverend and Right Reverend thieves!