31.12.2010, 12:24
PRAY, THINK, AND STRIVE!
Wouldst thou be safe from those, who plead or sneer
Against the virtue of our ancient frame
Of thought, and noble models ; wouldst thou claim
A full exemption from this modern Fear,
Pray, think, and strive ! with God's good Book for guide :
Be proof against the sweet word or the scoff :
A light-laid faith will soon be lifted off
Into some scorner's nostrils, when his pride
Smells at your simple creed in free disdain ;
Nor let the smile of gentler critics fix
Their spells upon you—they who deftly mix
Some Christian truth with errors black as Styx ;
Charming to sleep the conscience and the brain.
Without the spleen of coarser heretics.
Wouldst thou be safe from those, who plead or sneer
Against the virtue of our ancient frame
Of thought, and noble models ; wouldst thou claim
A full exemption from this modern Fear,
Pray, think, and strive ! with God's good Book for guide :
Be proof against the sweet word or the scoff :
A light-laid faith will soon be lifted off
Into some scorner's nostrils, when his pride
Smells at your simple creed in free disdain ;
Nor let the smile of gentler critics fix
Their spells upon you—they who deftly mix
Some Christian truth with errors black as Styx ;
Charming to sleep the conscience and the brain.
Without the spleen of coarser heretics.