Therefore, though in small degree, creation involveth evil, He chargeth His angels with folly, and the heavens are not clean in His sight: For every existence in the universe hath either imperfection or Godhead: And the light that blazeth but in One, must be softened with shadow for the many. There is then good in evil; or none could have known his Maker; No spiritual intellect or essence could have gazed on His high perfections, No angel harps could have tuned the wonders of His wisdom, No ransomed souls have praised the glories of His mercy, No howling fiends have shown the terrors of His justice, But God would have dwelt alone, in the fearful solitude of holiness. Nevertheless, O sinner, harden not thine heart in evil; Nor plume thee in imaginary triumph, because thou art not valueless as vile; Because thy dark abominations add lustre to the clarity of Light; Because a wonder-working alchemy draineth elixir out of poisons; Because the same fiery volcano that scorcheth and ravageth a continent, Hath in the broad blue bay cast up some petty island; Because to the full demonstration of the qualities and accidents of good The swarthy legions of the Devil have toiled as unwitting pioneers. For sin is still sin; so hateful Love doth hate it; A blot on the glory of creation, which Justice must wipe out. Sin is a loathsome leprosy, fretting the white robe of innocence; A rottenness, eating out the heart of the royal cedars of Lebanon; A pestilential blast, the terror of that holy pilgrimage; A rent in the sacred veil, whereby God left His temple. Therefore, consider thyself, thou that dost not sorrow for thy guilt: Fear evil, or face its Enemy: dread sin, or dare Justice.