Doubtful of life shalt thou by night, by day, 240 For grief, and dread, and trouble pine away; Thy evening-wish,--'Would God I saw the sun!' Thy morning-sigh,--'Would God the day were done!' Thus shalt thou suffer, and to distant times Regret thy misery, and lament thy crimes[46]." A part there are, whom doubtless man might trust, Worthy as wealthy, pure, religious, just; They who with patience, yet with rapture look On the strong promise of the sacred book: As unfulfilled th' endearing words they view, 250 And blind to truth, yet own their prophets true; Well pleased they look for Sion's coming state, Nor think of Julian's boast and Julian's fate[47]. More might I add; I might describe the flocks Made by seceders from the ancient stocks; Those who will not to any guide submit, Nor find one creed to their conceptions fit, Each sect, they judge, in something goes astray, And every church has lost the certain way; Then for themselves they carve out creed and laws, 260 And weigh their atoms, and divide their straws. A sect remains, which though divided long } In hostile parties, both are fierce and strong, } And into each enlists a warm and zealous throng. } Soon as they rose in fame, the strife arose, } The Calvinistic these, th' Arminian those; } With Wesley some remained, the remnant Whitfield chose. } Now various leaders both the parties take, And the divided hosts their new divisions make. See yonder preacher to his people pass, 270 Borne up and swell'd by tabernacle-gas; Much he discourses, and of various points, All unconnected, void of limbs and joints; He rails, persuades, explains, and moves the will, By fierce bold words, and strong mechanic skill. "That Gospel Paul with zeal and love maintain'd, To others lost, to you is now explain'd; No worldly learning can these points discuss, Books teach them not as they are taught to us. Illiterate call us! let their wisest man 280 Draw forth his thousands as your teacher can: They give their moral precepts; so, they say, Did Epictetus once, and Seneca; One was a slave, and slaves we all must be, Until the Spirit comes and sets us free, Yet hear you nothing from such men but works; They make the Christian service like the Turks'. "Hark to the churchman: day by day he cries,-- 'Children of men, be virtuous and be wise; Seek patience, justice, temp'rance, meekness, truth; 290 In age be courteous, be sedate in youth.'-- So they advise, and when such things be read, How can we wonder that their flocks are dead? "The heathens wrote of virtue, they could dwell On such light points--in them it might be well,