Dear Disputant! whose mind would boldly soar, And all theology's domain explore! I love the candid fervency of soul, That scorns a dogmatist's austere controul; Let liberal scholars, as they surely ought, Claim, and allow, a latitude of thought! As friends I honour, with a love benign, Many, whose creeds may vary far from mine: Secure from error I no mortal deem; But all, who truly seek for truth, esteem. Yet with a mild regret, and kind concern I see temerity's ambition burn, When zeal, self-blinded in a mental mist, Denies, that hallow'd mysteries exist; And deems, that reason, which no fears appall, Has self-sufficiency to clear them all: Tis reas'ning pride, not reason, just, and sore. Which in religion finds no point obscure; Which, measuring Godhead with an earthly line, Would rob the Saviour of his rights divine. There are, who call Him, by their dreams beguil'd, Mere man; of mortal geniture the child! Tho' sanction'd, by his Sire's almighty breath, His Son! a sovereign o'er life, and death! 'Tis not for mortals, in their transient hour, To pierce the secrets of primordial power; Or guess, how God, on his eternal throne, To filial spirit could impart his own: But how can earth deny, by truth unblam'd, Divinity, that Heaven itself proclaim'd. Reason opposes pride's degrading plan. To sink the Saviour to a simple man: Were He no more, could He, so born, presume With Heaven to mediate for all nature's doom? No! for, so born, Himself must then require A mediator with th' eternal Sire: Disclaim his Godhead, you at once imply His deeds are doubtful, and his word a lie. If not a God, most guilty of mankind, His doctrine tends the human race to blind. Surpassing e'en the fiend, who caus'd our fall, By sharing worship with the Sire of all! O ye! whose reas'ning pride can so mistake The truths, He meekly spoke for mercy's sake! More humbly grateful, learn ye to rejoice In all the dictates of his cheering voice! Who, to console his grief-dejected flock, Show'd, how their faith is built upon a rock; And, in the closing of his earthly strife, Made manifest Himself as Lord of Life! And tho' to death, the most disgraceful, driven, Possessing all the powers of earth, and Heaven. Pure source of light! and safety to the lost, Without Thee on a sea of darkness tost! Sovereign of grace, and kindness so sublime, Thou view'st with pity their ungrateful crime, Who, while they load Thee with degrading praise, Would darken in thy crown its heavenly rays. And O! how truly pitiable are those, By nature mild, nor truth's intended foes, Whose strange illusion yet miscalls Thee, man, Tho' chosen to fulfil redemption's plan! Who of Thy Godhead want that sacred sense, That cordial glow of gratitude intense, Which forms the bliss of their enlighten'd zeal, Who all the merits of thy mercy feel! Who hail Thee quitting thy bright throne above, Sublime example of celestial love! To clear, for them, a debt, they could not pay, And change their darkness to eternal day!